$1 Million Scratcher Sold at City Market

Bernardo Escobedo recently claimed a $1 million prize from the California Lottery after purchasing a winning Scratchers ticket at a local Long Beach convenience store.

Escobedo secured the top prize on a $10 Money Mania Scratchers ticket, which he bought at LB City Market, located at the intersection of Orange Avenue and 10th Street. Escobedo told lottery officials he frequently purchases a single ticket at various liquor stores he visits to test his luck. Before this jackpot, his largest lottery prize was $500. He discovered the win while standing outside the store and scanned the ticket a second time due to disbelief. Escobedo stated that “God will decide what comes next” regarding his prize winnings.

Escobedo’s prize places him among other Long Beach shoppers who have won the jackpot.

A large sum awarded in recent Long Beach history occurred in March 2010 when John Dalkos, an immigrant from Greece and a local cobbler, won a $134 million Mega Millions jackpot. Dalkos purchased the winning draw ticket at Country Donuts, located at 3200 E. Anaheim St. He claimed the cash option, leaving behind a multi-generational family estate when he died in 2025 at the age of 90.

Another historic multi-state draw win involved Jerry Heath, a Long Beach resident, retired Long Beach Police Department detective, and U.S. Army veteran. In August 2024, Heath won a $44.3 million Powerball jackpot from a ticket he purchased at a Ralphs grocery store in Dana Point.

While multi-state draw games produce the highest singular jackpots, instant-win Scratchers have occurred more often in Long Beach. Historical records detail several Long Beach Scratchers winners over recent years:

1. Bunnarith Touch won $10 million in April 2021 on a 200X Scratchers ticket purchased at Albertsons on 110 E. Willow St.

2. Jacquelin Pedraza won $5 million in January 2022 on a Roaring 2022 Scratchers ticket bought at Hody Lane Liquor on 5201 Pacific Coast Highway.

3. Oscar Melendez won $5 million in the summer of 2024 on a Year of Fortune Scratchers ticket purchased at a 7-Eleven on Atlantic Avenue.

4. Yolanda Madrigal won $2 million in November 2021 on an Instant Prize Crossword ticket bought at the United Oil 76 station on 2440 E. Anaheim St.

5. Julie Bass won $1 million in February 2025 on a Triple Red 777 Scratchers ticket bought at Golden Moon on 1617 E. Anaheim St.

6. Anthony Winston won $1 million in August 2022 on a California Dreamin’ ticket from Liquor 4 Less in Long Beach.

7. Martin Haslup won $1 million in September 2021 on a California Dreamin’ ticket, purchased at Smoke 4 Less, 1944 N. Lakewood Blvd.

There is a high concentration of winning tickets sold along the East Anaheim Street commercial corridor, where Dalkos’s $134 million ticket, Madrigal’s $2 million ticket, and Bass’s $1 million ticket were sold.

Previous winners use their funds to improve economic stability. Following her $5 million win, Pedraza used a portion of her prize to pay for her younger brother’s college tuition, eliminating his educational debt. She also financed her wedding and purchased a residence.

Real estate acquisition and mortgage elimination are prevailing trends among local winners. Bass used a portion of her $1 million prize to purchase a home closer to her daughter. At the same time, Heath used his multi-million-dollar prize to pay off his existing mortgage and build intergenerational wealth for his descendants. Bass also utilized her winnings to immediately retire from her clerical position on her 25th work anniversary.

Independent retailers who sell winning jackpot tickets receive a state-issued commission bonus, typically 0.5% of the total prize. Country Donuts received a $670,000 bonus for selling Dalkos’s winning Mega Millions ticket, while Hody Lane Liquor received $25,000 for hosting Pedraza’s Scratchers. These cash prizes give independent businesses the money they need to cover day-to-day expenses, keep things running smoothly, and pay rent.

Bass initially believed she had merely won a “free ticket” and required a neighbor to confirm her $1 million prize. Pedraza assumed her winning Scratchers ticket was a novelty prank purchased by her father and only believed she had won after scanning the barcode on the official lottery smartphone application. Madrigal screamed with such intensity upon confirming her win that her husband believed she had suffered a physical injury.

For any inquiries or further information, please contact Jose Cervantes at JoseC.Press@pm.me