Yuba City store sells winning Mega Millions ticket

Ravinder Dhindsa was all smiles Wednesday as she encouraged customers to check their lottery tickets.

"I'm asking everybody who comes in here, 'Did you win?'" she said, pointing toward the scan machine that checks tickets.

The manager of the 7-Eleven at Stabler Lane and Butte House Road was practically giddy after the California State Lottery called to say her store was one of three in the state to sell a Mega Millions ticket matching five out of six numbers Tuesday. The winners will split a $1,014,318 prize, each receiving $338,106.

"I'm really excited. Somebody win from my store? That's so great," Dhindsa said. "And maybe people come back here thinking maybe we sell other good tickets."

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, state lottery officials said the winner of the Yuba City ticket had not come forward. A woman called the Appeal-Democrat earlier in the day to say she had won, but it could not be confirmed.

The odds of matching five of the numbers was one in 4 million. The odds of matching all six numbers was one in 176 million. A single ticket in New York won the estimated $206 million jackpot.

"The odds are pretty long, especially because you have so many states that are involved," said Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso. Lottery tickets are not as popular as scratchers at the Yuba City 7-Eleven, but sales get a boost whenever the jackpot hits substantial sums, Dhindsa said. As the Mega Millions topped $200 million, she estimated she sold $3,000 in tickets between Friday night and the Tuesday draw.

The three winning tickets matched the numbers 32, 43, 23, 33 and 39, missing only the Mega number of 8. The other two tickets were sold in Los Angeles and Tustin, in Orange County.

Dhindsa has worked at the 7-Eleven for nearly 18 years and cannot remember anyone ever winning such a large sum. A few years ago, a man won $20,000 on a scratcher.

"He's over there scratching, and then he's shaking — 'I won $20,000!'" she said.

MEGA Millions is played in California and 41 other states. Tickets cost $1. Players pick five numbers from one to 56 and a Mega number from 1 to 46.

The California Lottery reminds winners to sign the back of their ticket, keep tickets in a safe place and contact lottery officials or visit their local lottery office as soon as possible. Winners have six months from the date of the draw to claim prizes.

After verification, the winners will be mailed a check for the final amount in four to six weeks, Traverso said. The Yuba City 7-Eleven does not get any portion of the winnings, but the New York store will get a bonus for selling the jackpot ticket.