California Lottery Rolls Out Some Royal Treatment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2026 PIO@calottery.com @calotterypress

PRESS RELEASE

California Lottery Rolls Out Some Royal Treatment

These Scratchers® Winners Are Enjoying A Quiet Celebrity Shuffle

SACRAMENTO – Rolling out the red carpet is nothing new to Hollywood's home state. The big reveal of this story is that when you take the crimson walk with the California Lottery, you might wind up a millionaire. This season, a cast of Scratchers® players have managed to turn ordinary playful afternoons into moments worthy of a standing ovation. And with every prize claimed, retailers across California get their own moment in the limelight, and California public schools get extra support from every play.

This Red Carpet Comes with $2,000,000

Leading the parade of lucky stars is Gevork Amarian, who kicked off the festivities with a Red Carpet Riches Scratchers game from Black Jack Market, 12643 Sherman Way Ste G, North Hollywood. Gevork's win set the tempo for a procession of players whose luck has a flair for dramatic entrances, lit nicely by that $2 million top prize.

Next up in the spotlight is Erika Vargas, who played their Red Carpet Riches ticket from the Chevron, 11203 Glenoaks Blvd #1, Pacoima. Erika's win adds a fresh sparkle to this season's storyline, proving that sometimes, the best supporting role is played by a lucky ticket.

Equally lucky, Tulu Defersha joined the winners' circle with their Red Carpet Riches from S P Gas & Food Mart, 1580 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. Tulu's prize brings a northern twinkle to our statewide cast, reminding us that luck is happy to travel up and down the map.

A Truly Royal Prize

Of course, no red carpet tale would be complete without a royal twist. Enter Ian Nugent, a crowned Royal Jackpot Scratchers winner, whose ticket from Short Stop Liquor & Market, 15400 Nordhoff St, Sepulveda, brought the curtain down with a flourish fit for a king. A king who uncovered a prize worth $15 million. For selling this winner, Short Stop Liquor & Market will receive a bonus of $75,000.

Together, these winners make up a cast of California Lottery champions, each stepping into the spotlight from their own corner of the state. They are united by the thrill of the game, the delight of discovery, and the simple magic of a ticket that transformed into a moment worth a bow – red carpet optional, applause encouraged.

Schools Win, Every Play

Every California Lottery ticket sold contributes to public education – the Lottery's mission since the beginning. Games like Scratchers, SuperLotto Plus®, Fantasy 5® and more help support schools in every county throughout California. Proceeds help fund classroom resources, technology upgrades, and career training programs for students from kindergarten through college. There's an interactive map on the California Lottery website at calottery.com/who-benefits which shows how Lottery funds are distributed to school districts across the state. Copies of the latest audited quarterly reports are also available on the website as well as videos highlighting how specific schools are using California Lottery funding for their students.

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The mission of the California Lottery is to raise additional funding for public education, helping to supplement school budgets for K-12 as well as colleges and universities. The California Lottery has raised more than $48 billion for public schools through the responsible sale of its games since 1985. Lottery funding for schools is largely discretionary, so administrators and educators can use Lottery money for instructional programs and services they may not otherwise afford. The California Lottery features eight draw games and dozens of new instant Scratchers games each year. More than 95% of California Lottery sales revenue goes back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education. More information about who benefits can be found here. As jackpots rise, the California Lottery would like to remind players that gambling should be fun. Borrowing money to play, spending above a person's budget, or using money intended for other purposes can ultimately lead to significant problems for players and their families. If a player recognizes that they have a gambling problem or if someone knows of someone who may have a problem, the Lottery recommends calling the California Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-800-GAMBLER.