When Bernardo Escobedo saw he had hit the jackpot on a \u201c$1,000,000 Money Mania\u201d scratcher ticket purchased in Long Beach, he found it \u201cunbelievable\u201d \u2014 literally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went back inside and scanned it again because I still couldn\u2019t believe it,\u201d Escobedo said, according to a California State Lottery news release Thursday.<\/p>\n
But it was true. He\u2019d just won $1 million after buying the $10 ticket on a weekend stop at a liquor store.<\/p>\n
Escobedo told lottery officials he enjoys buying scratchers tickets at different stores to test his luck.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the type of person who buys one ticket at whatever liquor store I go to,\u201d he said. \u201cI go to different ones and say, \u2018Let me try here, see if this place gives me luck.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
His biggest previous wins have topped out at $100 to $500. Escobedo is taking a cautious approach to deciding what to do with his jackpot.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod will decide what comes next,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Players in the Sacramento area also won $1 million jackpots in the game.<\/p>\n
Cynthia Bravo won with a ticket purchased at the Chevron station at 4200 Norwood Ave. in Sacramento and Metta Barone won with a ticket purchased at Safeway at 4805 Granite Drive in Rocklin, the lottery said.<\/p>\n
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.<\/p>\n
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700<\/a> or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.<\/a><\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n