King of the $20 Scratchers Strikes Gold with a $5 Million Jackpot

Daniel Peramaki calls himself the “King of the $20 Scratchers,” but his latest win had even the veteran player doubting himself.

“I thought, ‘No way!’ I honestly thought I scratched it wrong,” Peramaki said in a Nov. 2 California Lottery news release.

“I was in shock for probably the whole day. I didn’t sleep that night.” Peramaki won the top $5 million jackpot on a Neon Cash Party ticket when he hit the winner after scratching off 24 losing spots, the lottery said.

He bought the ticket at a liquor store in Anaheim, which will receive a $25,000 bonus.

Peramaki, who describes himself as “very superstitious,” has a few tricks when it comes to buying Scratchers, lottery officials said. He tries to purchase the seventh, eighth, or ninth tickets on newly opened packs of $20 Scratchers.

Peramaki also refuses to scratch his new tickets right away.

“If I scratch them right away, it’s a loser,” he said.

“I usually buy them, put them in my pocket, and wait.

I didn’t scratch this one until midnight.” The winning $5 million ticket also was the seventh from a fresh pack, lottery officials said.