Astonished lotto fan Nicholas Shreve has told how he landed a USD 50,000 jackpot after years of playing the same numbers without winning a penny.

The 52-year-old mechanical engineer from the town of Forest Hill, in the US state of Maryland, had stopped for fuel at the local Sunoco gas station, when, he says, he suddenly felt lucky.

He stayed loyal to his veteran numbers and bought a seven-spot Keno ticket for three drawings and added the Super Bonus multiplier.

After watching the first game and getting no hits, the crestfallen dad of four put the ticket in his wallet and drove home.

When he remembered to check the ticket later, he was amazed when he realised he had just won USD 50,000 (GBP 40,395).

Nick said in a statement obtained by Newsflash from Maryland Lottery: “I checked the ticket using the app on my phone and that’s when the magic happened.

“It was unbelievable, so I closed out the app and then reopened it to scan a second time.”

When the message again confirmed his prize, he ran to show it to his wife.

But when he still couldn’t believe it, he visited Maryland Lottery’s website to watch the drawing.

Nick said: “I had to watch the game. I wanted to see my numbers actually coming out.”

Now he plans to use part of the cash on a family trip and save the rest for retirement.

Maryland Lottery said: “The Harford County retailer that sold the winning Keno ticket also benefits from the win.

“Forest Hill Sunoco, located at 2019 Rock Spring Road, will receive a bonus of USD 500 [GBP 403] from the Lottery for selling a winning Keno ticket of USD 10,000 [GBP 8,077] or more.

“The bonus is equal to one per cent of the prize.”