Lotto Ticket Purchased in Ontario Worth $44.4 Million
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SACRAMENTO — One winning ticket was purchased for the $44.4-million jackpot in Wednesday’s California Lottery Lotto 6/53 game, lottery officials said.
The ticket with all six winning numbers was sold in Ontario, and the holder or holders can claim the ninth-largest prize in the history of the Lotto game.
But the owner of a liquor store that sold the winning ticket said his excitement was dampened by a rule imposed only five days ago that keeps him from enjoying a share of the prize.
The state Lottery Commission changed its policy on Dec. 1 to increase general sales commissions from a nickel to 6 cents on each ticket while discontinuing the practice of rewarding sellers of winning tickets with one-half of 1% of the top prizes.
“Instead of getting $222,000, I got 6 cents for selling the ticket,” said Ted Gable, owner of Corks & Cans Liquor in Ontario. “Talk about mixed emotions.”
The winning numbers were 7, 25, 26, 27, 36 and 39 with the bonus number 4.
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