California lottery players are celebrating major wins as a Waterford man claims $15 million Scratchers jackpot while Powerball hits $1 billion tonight. The winning combination of luck and celebration makes this a historic night for Golden State lottery enthusiasts dreaming of life-changing prizes.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Gary Cooksey from Stanislaus County claimed the top $15 million prize on a commemorative 40 Years of Play! Scratchers ticket purchased at AMPM on Yosemite Boulevard in Waterford
- Four California Lottery Scratchers players won combined $24 million in prizes announced December 12, 2025
- Tonight’s Powerball jackpot reaches $1 billion making it the second billion-dollar jackpot of 2025
- The AM/PM retailer in Waterford receives a bonus prize for selling the mega-winning Scratchers ticket
How Gary Cooksey Won Big on a Commemorative Scratchers Game
Nintendo Switch deals on Amazon slash prices up to 50%: best buys to snag before summer ends
Razer gaming chair wows with RGB but leaves users sore: poor neck and lumbar support
Gary Cooksey’s lucky ticket came from the 40 Years of Play! Scratchers game, celebrating California Lottery’s anniversary milestone. The Waterford AMPM location at 12725 Yosemite Boulevard became the site of his life-changing moment when he scratched the $15 million top prize. This represents one of the largest single Scratchers wins in California this year.
Cooksey purchased his winning ticket at a convenience store just miles from his home in Stanislaus County. The iconic gold and commemorative design of the 40 Years of Play! game has proven extraordinarily popular. His claim of the prize happened swiftly after the winning ticket was validated through official California Lottery channels.
Four Major Scratchers Winners Celebrate $24 Million Combined
Edifier G5 Max: 305-hour battery and immersive gaming sound for a surprisingly low price
Asus ROG Swift OLED: blazing OLED display promises competitive gamers a clear edge
Cooksey’s $15 million win tops the list of four major California Scratchers winners who combined to win $24 million in prizes announced on December 12, 2025. Across different regions and games, these players strike the jackpot during a fortunate period for the state’s instant-win lottery.
The other three winners claimed additional substantial prizes, though their specific names and amounts remain distributed across different Scratchers games. These multi-winner announcements showcase California’s status as a lottery powerhouse. The concentration of big wins within days demonstrates the ever-present possibility of instant millionaire status through Scratchers tickets.
Retail Outlet Receives Bonus After Selling Mega-Jackpot Ticket
| Winner Details | Information |
| Winner Name | Gary Cooksey |
| Prize Amount | $15,000,000 |
| Game Name | 40 Years of Play! Scratchers |
| Retailer Location | AMPM, 12725 Yosemite Blvd, Waterford |
| Claiming Date | December 12, 2025 (Announced) |
The AMPM store in Waterford that sold the winning ticket receives a standard retailer bonus prize from the California Lottery as reward for selling a major prize-winning ticket. These retailer incentives motivate convenient store owners and operators to participate in the lottery’s success. The prominence of convenience stores in mega-prize wins makes them important partners in California’s gaming ecosystem.
Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $1 Billion for Tonight’s Drawing
While Scratchers players celebrated their wins, Powerball’s jackpot climbed to approximately $1 billion for tonight’s drawing on December 13, 2025. This represents the second billion-dollar Powerball jackpot of 2025, after a previous drawing earlier in the year reached the same milestone. The $1 billion prize pool offers a cash option of approximately $429 million for players choosing immediate lump-sum payment.
Powerball drawings occur three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. Tonight’s Saturday drawing will capture attention from California and across America. The astronomical odds of matching all six numbers (five white balls plus the red Powerball) remain at 1 in 292 million, yet the massive prize pool continues drawing millions of hopeful ticket buyers.
What Makes California’s Lottery Success So Exceptional Compared to Other States?
California’s lottery system combines multiple game types including Scratchers for instant wins and draw games like Powerball for life-changing jackpots. The state’s population of nearly 40 million residents creates enormous ticket sales volume daily. Combined with favorable prize structures, this creates frequent headline-making winners like Gary Cooksey.
The California Lottery has distributed billions in revenue to public education since its 1985 inception. Winners like Cooksey capture public imagination while driving awareness of lottery games. The December announcements of four major Scratchers winners and a billion-dollar Powerball jackpot demonstrate California’s ongoing role as America’s lottery leader. Whether through instant-win Scratchers or multi-state Powerball, the Golden State generates some of the nation’s most notable lottery moments.
“This was the shortest jackpot run since August 2023, highlighting the excitement and frequency of Powerball’s big wins.”
— California Lottery Officials, Prize Distribution Statement
Sources
- San Francisco Chronicle – Coverage of Northern California gas station selling $15M Scratchers ticket
- NBC Bay Area – Northern California lottery Scratchers player hits $15M jackpot reporting
- California State Lottery – Official announcements of winners and prize details
Annabelle Ink is a gaming journalist and lifelong gamer who lives and breathes video game culture. From console releases to esports tournaments, this dedicated journalist brings insider knowledge and genuine enthusiasm to every review and feature. Her expertise spans multiple gaming platforms, helping readers discover their next favorite game while staying connected to the pulse of the gaming industry.