After deducting federal taxes, he chose the flat rate of $5.8 million, and the owner of Prince Food & Gas received a $50,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
A California man walked out of a store with a $10 million lottery ticket after he couldn’t decide which scratch-off ticket to buy thanks to a salesperson’s recommendation.
Brent Young won his $10 million playing the California 200X $30 Instant Game. He bought the winning ticket at Prince Food & Gas on West Walnut Avenue in Visalia.
Young had no idea which game would give him the best chance of winning. Feeling indecisive, he asked the clerk for help choosing a ticket.
It can be challenging for players to choose from over two dozen scratch-off games that the California Lottery offers. The cashier selected a ticket for the $30 instant game California 200X.
After paying for his gas and lottery ticket, Young went to work scratching. When he was about halfway through, he noticed that one of his numbers matched the winning numbers printed on the side of the ticket. There was no doubt: the prize amount of $10,000,000 was in bold.
“When I saw all those zeros, I thought, ‘No way, this doesn’t happen to people like me,'” Young told the lottery. “It’s crazy. From all of these options, the cashier could have chosen a different game, but he didn’t. He picked up a winner.”
Young was surprised to find himself at this particular retailer. He usually bought gas and lottery tickets at another gas station. However, the other gas station was closed that day, so he had to stop at Prince Food & Gas instead.
“It’s almost like God’s intervention,” Young told the lottery. “I didn’t have a specific ticket I wanted to buy, so I let someone else decide. I had no choice but to go to Prince’s. My usual stop was closed. If it had been open, none of this probably would have happened.”
After deducting federal taxes, he chose the flat rate of $5.8 million, and the owner of Prince Food & Gas received a $50,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
What is California 200X?
California 200X is a California-exclusive instant game where players can win up to $10 million.
With Young winning the top prize, four of nine $10 million prizes remain in the $30 California 200X game. In addition, nine of 18 second-tier prizes worth $750,000 and 40 of 92 third-tier prizes worth $50,000 remain.
More: A New Yorker comes forward and wins a $12 million jackpot in 1991, the largest in the state’s history
What are the chances of winning the California 200X?
The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are 1 in 2.71. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 3,041,187.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery courier, in these states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington DC and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket and collect your winnings – all from your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may generate revenue through audience referrals to Jackpocket Services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Please see jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.