California lottery announces big winners, including one in central Valley. How much did he win?

A man who stopped by a Merced County store is no doubt feeling some truth in the California Lottery’s tagline for its Scratchers games.

“A little play can make your day,” the Lottery said in a statement announcing three of its latest winners, each of whom won $1 million dollars or more on a Scratchers ticket.

Enrique Reynoso won $5 million — the top prize on the $5,000,000 Extreme Cash game.

According to the California Lottery, Reynoso bought the winning tickets at the Pennywise Travel Plaza in Santa Nella. The store will receive $25,000 for selling the winning ticket.

The two other winners were Nam Pha, who won $5 million on a ticket bought from a Vallarta Supermarket in Whittier, and Rodica Capraru, who won $1 million on a Gold Rush. That ticket was purchased at a CVS in San Carlos.

Just last week, the California Lottery announced a woman in Tarzana won $10 million on a $30 ticket she never intended to buy: She accidentally hit the wrong bottom on the machine.

The publicity push is partly a reminder that April is Public Schools Month and that the California Lottery raises funding for the state’s public schools. The lottery has generated more than $39 billion for public education since 1985, according to the release.

This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 11:22 AM.