A stroke of luck for a homeless San Luis Obispo man might allow him to afford a home – and the second chance he had dreamed of.
Central Coast City’s Sandy Liquor clients won a $1 million scradder from California’s lottery this month, state lottery officials said. According to store manager Wilson Summern, the man is a longtime customer who was homeless and didn’t want to talk publicly. However, Summeran couldn’t contain his clients’ joy during an interview with the Times on Wednesday.
“I was very excited, even more excited than he was,” Summeran said. “He’s a good guy, he deserves every penny. …I was very excited that it happened to someone who deserved it, and he actually needed it.”
The man’s victory, first reported by KSBY News, has been verified by the state lottery, officials said. The store congratulated “loyal customers” by sharing photos of their big wins on Instagram. Summeran said this was his store’s biggest lottery victory since he began working there in 2013. Retailers who sell tickets will earn $5,000, or 0.5% of the jackpot.
Saman says he’s become familiar with the winners over the past few years and trusts him to look at the store when he has to restock items and deal with issues. Saman offered the man a job at one point, but he said his bad knees were unable to do the necessary manual labor, such as refilling shelves and coolers.
“He’s a good, reliable person,” Saman said.
The man learned of Scratcher’s victory while he was in the store sometime last week, Summeran said.
“He recalls, ‘Wilson, come here, is it true, is it true?” “I scanned it and I’m like, ‘Brother, you hit the jackpot!”
Initially, the man thought he had won $100,000, but Summeran informed him that it was more than that.
“He said he wouldn’t waste a second talented opportunity, so he’s going to buy a car and a small house. Then the rest of the money, he’s going to find an investment or business,” Saman said.
The store manager said he drove a friend to the California lottery office, closest to Fresno, to make sure the tickets were there. The man initially intended to mail it, he said.
California Lottery spokesman Carolyn Becker said the organization has not yet confirmed the identity or validity of the winner, and the verification process can take weeks. However, she confirmed this month that a $1 million triple red 777 game was sold at Sandy liquor in San Luis Obispo.
“We will not announce winners until the billing and review process is over,” Becker said.
The top prize for the Triple Red 777 game is $1 million. A chance to win, which can be one in 2.47 million people. However, according to the California lottery, the overall odds of winning a cash prize in the game are one in 2.92.
Five of the game’s 13 top awards have not been charged.
