A California Lottery scratcher worth $7 million was sold at a liquor store in San Francisco’s Mission District, lottery officials said Friday.
The winner had not yet come forward to begin the claims process, officials said. Major prizes must be reviewed before they are paid out, a process that typically takes six to eight weeks.
Lottery officials urged the ticket holder to sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place until the prize is claimed.
Mission Grocery & Liquor is a neighborhood shop along one of the neighborhood’s busiest corridors. A photo released by the lottery shows a store clerk identified as Rocky standing outside the business with a ceremonial oversized check.
The store is eligible for a $35,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket, based on California Lottery incentive rules that top-prize tickets of $1 million or more earn one-half of 1%.
Winnings are subject to federal taxes, and the final payout depends on whether the winner chooses a lump sum or annuity payments over time.
The odds of winning the $7 million top prize in the $30 Crossword Xtreme Scratchers game are roughly 1 in 81 million, according to the California Lottery.
Lottery officials also encourage responsible play. Free and confidential support is available at 800-426-2537 or 800gambler.chat.