The California Lottery is facing scrutiny after a SuperLotto Plus press release mistakenly included a $12 million jackpot winner’s home address instead of the retailer location where the winning ticket was sold. The error raised immediate concerns about lottery winner privacy, especially in a state where winners cannot remain anonymous.
According to the lottery, the incorrect information appeared in an email press release sent to nearly 800 media contacts. The release identified Raul Servellon de Leo as the winner of the Nov. 29, 2025 SuperLotto Plus jackpot, but listed his residential address rather than the Sacramento liquor store that sold the ticket.
Lottery officials later clarified that the winner’s address was not posted on the California Lottery website and that a corrected version was sent quickly after the mistake was discovered. The agency said it also contacted newsrooms that received the original release and updated the materials with the proper retailer information: King Wine & Liquor 2 on Fruitridge Road in Sacramento.
What the California Lottery Said
In its follow-up statement, the California Lottery apologized and said player privacy and accuracy are top priorities. Officials described the disclosure as an unprecedented mistake for the agency and said internal procedures are now under review to help prevent a similar error in the future.
The lottery also noted that while the original email was distributed to 798 addresses, many were duplicates tied to the same news organizations. About 49% of recipients opened the release before the correction was issued.
Why the Privacy Error Matters
California public records rules require certain lottery winner details to be disclosed, including the winner’s name, prize amount, winning date, and the retailer that sold the ticket. But a home address is not part of that public record. That protection exists for a reason: revealing where a jackpot winner lives can create serious safety, privacy, and harassment risks.
That’s what makes this incident so significant. Even though the address was reportedly never published on the lottery’s website, sending it directly to media outlets still created a potential exposure point. In big-prize lottery stories, even a brief slip can spread fast—no wonder the correction had to go out immediately.
For readers tracking other major jackpot updates and draw game results, you can also explore the latest lottery coverage at Nichebrai Lottery News.
About the Winning SuperLotto Plus Ticket
The winner claimed a $12 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot from the Nov. 29, 2025 drawing. The winning numbers were 20, 21, 22, 32, and 43, with Mega number 12.
SuperLotto Plus is a California-only lottery game. Players choose five numbers from 1 to 47 and one Mega number from 1 to 27 for a chance at the rolling jackpot. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:57 p.m. Pacific Time, and tickets cost $1. At the time of the latest update, the next SuperLotto Plus jackpot stood at $9 million.
Expert Insight
This situation highlights a growing issue in lottery operations: privacy controls often depend on fast-moving communications teams, and one data-entry error can create real-world risk. In states like California, where winners cannot claim prizes anonymously, agencies have an even greater responsibility to separate public-record details from protected personal information.
From a risk-management standpoint, lotteries may need stronger safeguards such as automated address verification, red-flag review systems, or dual approval before sending jackpot press releases. That kind of extra step may sound small, but for multimillion-dollar winners, it can make a major difference in personal security and public trust.
Want more updates on jackpot winners, drawing results, and lottery controversies? Check out more stories at https://nichebrai.com/news.