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For IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2023
Email: PIO@calottery.com Twitter: @calotterypress

Five California Lottery Scratchers® Players Bring Home $7 Million Total From All Across the State

SACRAMENTO – As we get ready for the time change this weekend, five California Lottery Scratchers players have already sprung forward into newfound wealth. That’s because they’re taking home a combined $7 million after playing a variety of Scratchers games up and down the Golden State.

Our tour of winners starts in Southern California, where Mr. Varela won the top prize of $1,000,000 playing a Winter Riches Scratchers ticket he got at Vallarta Supermarket in National City (San Diego County). While Varela wants to remain private, wins like his are becoming a regular occurrence at Vallarta Supermarkets. A store in Whittier sold a Scratchers ticket worth $5 million in April of last year.

“Our stores do see an increase in traffic, particularly during the large jackpots, as customers come in hopes of purchasing the winning ticket, ” said Lizette Gomez, Director of Marketing, Vallarta Supermarkets. “Increased foot traffic can lead to boost in sales of other products and services we offer at our Supermarkets, making it a win-win for everyone.”

Now to the Bay Area, where two lucky players cashed in on top prizes of $2,000,000 each. Van Le, who is representing a group of four players who purchase Scratchers tickets together, won $2,000,000 playing Instant Prize Crossword purchased at Way Fay Market and Liquor in Oakland. Teddy Young also picked up $2,000,000 with an Instant Prize Crossword Scratchers ticket. That ticket came from The Wine Fountaine in San Jose.

A convenience store in a small Central Valley town also sold a big winner. Luis Cruz won $1,000,000 playing a Winter Riches Scratchers ticket from the Fastrip in Mendota (Fresno County).

Rounding out the California Lottery’s latest millionaires is Ramon Torres, who won $1,000,000 playing a 50X Fortune Scratchers ticket he from the Union 76 on Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks (Los Angeles County).

The California Lottery is grateful to all players who help support its efforts and mission to raise additional funding for public education.

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(Image of Vallarta Supermarket located on Euclid Avenue in National City) ###

The California Lottery’s mission is to provide supplemental funding to California public schools, including kindergarten and grades 1-12, community colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and other California public educational entities. The funds the Lottery transferred to public education totaled more than $1.88 billion for fiscal year 2020-21, which amounted to a modest percentage of education’s overall budget. However, this funding is largely discretionary, meaning schools can use this for important, yet unfunded instructional programs they would otherwise not afford. During the same period, the Lottery generated almost $8.4 billion in sales, more than 95% of which went back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education. If you feel you have a gambling problem or know someone who does, you can get free confidential help by calling the California Problem Gambling Helpline at 1- 800-GAMBLER.

www.calottery.com