Reedley man wins $5 million in California Lottery from Million $$ Match ticket

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Reedley man bought a scratcher ticket and won $5 million.

Lottery officials say Mohamed Kassem bought a $20.00 "Million $$ Match" scratcher inside Country Corner Market and won big time. The odds of winning with a scratcher ticket are one in six million.

Action News has learned Kassem also owns the store where he bought the ticket. Kassem was ecstatic to take home the top prize, and the store's customers say they couldn't be happier for him.

"They are just good people," said Subrena Denson. "I just enjoy being around them."

Richard Lopez with the California Lottery said, "He was very excited! His wife said she thought he was going to have a heart attack because he was so excited. It's a really neat thing."

Kassem's family says he immigrated from Yemen to America in the 1990s. He's a father of ten children.

Game organizers say he won the top prize in a new game which was only started a week ago.

Watch the video for extended coverage from Action News reporter Mariana Jacob.