Five California lottery players have become the state’s new millionaires after winning a total of $17 million in scratcher games, lottery officials announced Friday.
The winners purchased their tickets at various stores across the state.
Nora Hammerstead decided to stop at Anaheim Liquor in Orange County on her way home and won $10 million after playing the Royal Riches game.
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“I’ve played and won thousands of dollars before, but nothing like this,” Hammerstead told the California Lottery. “It was shocking. “I was thinking, ‘This can’t be real. I must be dreaming!’ One day I’m going to pinch myself and wake up.”
Instead of going straight to the California lottery office to claim her winnings, Hammerstead waited a full week before cashing in, which she described as a week of “torture” at work.
Hammerstead said it “came true” when she went to the lottery office to collect her prize. She told the state lottery office that she realized that her retirement was “two years early.”
Regular lottery player Ogonna Onyeje won the top prize of $2 million in the Instant Prize crossword scratcher game held at Fresno’s Shop ‘n Go.
Jose Reyes Ayala also won $2 million by playing the $10 Instant Prize Crossword Game. The winning ticket was sold at MD Liquor & Food in Santa Rosa.
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Maril Muñoz Valasquez also won the top prize of $2 million after playing the Multiplier Craze Scratchers game. The winning ticket was sold at a Marathon gas station in Staunton.
Finally, Blandina Carranza won the top prize of $1 million after playing the Power 10 Scratchers game. The winning ticket was sold at Bird Market in Oxnard.
All winning shops also received bonuses for selling lottery games.
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