A man who had been living without a permanent home in a small Central Coast town is now a millionaire after winning $1 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket.
The man, who asked not to be named, purchased the winning “Triple Red 777” ticket at Sandy’s Liquor in San Luis Obispo, a university town midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was a place he frequented often.
Store manager Wilson Samaan told the Los Angeles Times he was the one who took the winner to the California Lottery district office in Fresno to verify the prize. According to Samaan, the man initially believed he had won $100,000. But after scanning the ticket, they realized the top prize was actually $1 million.
“I’ve never seen someone so shocked,” Samaan said. “He just kept saying, ‘No way, no way.’”
The winner, overwhelmed with emotion, said he plans to buy a home and a car, and invest the remaining funds. Samaan added that the man is determined not to waste what he sees as a second chance in life.
Sandy’s Liquor will receive a $5,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket — the largest payout the store has received since it opened in 2013.
Despite struggling with a knee injury that once kept him from accepting a job offer at the store, the man had become a trusted figure in the neighborhood. Samaan said he often relied on him to watch over the shop when he had to step out.
The California Lottery confirmed that the winning ticket was sold at Sandy’s, but noted that it may take several weeks before the prize is officially awarded. Five of the thirteen top prizes in the “Triple Red 777” game remain unclaimed, according to the lottery.
The game mimics the look of a classic slot machine, with red “7” symbols across its scratchable panels. Players win by revealing specific combinations of symbols. The $1 million prize is the game’s highest possible payout.
Odds of winning vary depending on the prize level, but the chance of hitting the jackpot is approximately 1 in 2.92 million.
