‘Scratch of a penny’ turns Central Coast lottery player into multi-millionaire
One lucky lottery player is a multi-millionaire after buying a scratchers ticket at a Central Coast liquor store, according to lottery officials.
The Lompoc resident won $7 million with a $30 Crossword Xtreme Scratchers ticket, California State Lottery said in a news release on Wednesday, April 8.
Here’s what to know:
Where was the winning ticket sold on Central Coast?
The winning scratch-off was purchased at Liquor Emporium, 1200 East Ocean Ave. in Lompoc, according to a California State Lottery spokesperson.
“Imagine, a scratch of a penny makes you a millionaire,” store owner Simon Kassis said in the release. “It was awesome to see somebody win ...”
It’s not the first time a Lompoc resident has struck it rich playing scratchers, the lottery spokesperson said.
In August 2025, Diego Duval Gonzales bought a Crossword Xtreme Scratchers ticket worth $7 million at Carbaugh’s Corner Market Deli in Lompoc, about a mile away from Liquor Emporium.
It takes about an hour to drive from San Luis Obispo to Lompoc in northern Santa Barbara County.
How to play California scratchers lottery games
The California State Lottery offers more than 50 scratchers games throughout the year, with new games launching every month.
The Crossword Xtreme Scratchers game features three crossword grids, each with their own bonus word and prize multiplier.
Cash prize amounts range from $40 to $7 million.
The odds of winning the top prize of $7 million are one in 4,927,095.
If you don’t win instantly, you can submit your scratchers ticket online for another chance to score prizes, the California State Lottery said.
The 2nd Chance Scratchers program choses 32 winners every week, giving out a total of $100,000 in prizes. The top prize is $25,000.
You can find California State Lottery retailers near you online by entering your address or ZIP code.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 11:01 AM.
