California woman wins life-changing prize on scratcher. ‘God, for real God?’
A woman following her daily routine the day before her birthday bought two California State Lottery scratchers tickets at a California doughnut shop.
But what happened next wasn’t routine at all.
“The second one I scratched had a matching number, and underneath it was $1,000,000,” Latriece Presentine said, according to a Wednesday, Dec. 10, lottery news release.
She purchased the two $10 “50X The Cash” scratchers tickets in August at Sweet Time Donuts, 624 E. Compton Blvd., in Compton, on her commute to work.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Presentine said. “I kept looking and looking at the ticket, and I was like, ‘God, for real God? This is how you’re doing me a day before my birthday?’”
She immediately called her older brother, also a devout scratchers player, but he didn’t believe her until she sent him a photo of the winning ticket.
Presentine plans to pay off debts, buy a vehicle and put a down payment on a house with her winnings.
Four other California players also won $1 million prizes in scratchers games, the lottery said.
- Salamawit Belete uncovered the top prize on their 50x The Cash purchased from 7-Eleven at 7460 Brentwood Blvd., in Brentwood.
- Johann Guzman won big with a 50X The Cash picked up at an Arco gas station at 988 N. San Antonio Road in Los Altos.
- Constantino Chavez played and won with a Power 10’s sold by Florence Donuts, 1242 E. Florence Ave. in Los Angeles.
- Miguel Maldonado scratched the top prize with a Power 10’s from an Arco gas station in Oxnard at 1850 S. Rose Ave.
This story was originally published December 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM with the headline "California woman wins life-changing prize on scratcher. ‘God, for real God?’."