Customer left lottery tickets at Circle K, one later won $12.8M
A Circle K store clerk is involved in a legal dispute after claiming a $12.8 million lottery jackpot from tickets he purchased after they were left behind by a customer. The company has filed a complaint to determine rightful ownership, while the clerk maintains he followed store policy regarding unsold tickets.
Why it matters
The case highlights complex legal and ethical questions regarding abandoned property and corporate policy in retail environments.
A legal battle has emerged over the rightful ownership of a winning lottery ticket worth $12.8 million, with a Circle K store clerk maintaining that he simply followed company policy when he purchased a set of abandoned lottery tickets.According to reports by ABC 15 Arizona, AZ Family, and 12 News Phoenix, Circle K filed a complaint in February against store clerk Robert Gawlitza, alleging that he attempted to claim the jackpot from a winning Arizona Lottery ticket that had been left behind by a customer at one of its stores on November 24, 2025.How the dispute beganAs reported by these publications, the customer purchased multiple tickets for Arizona's The Pick lottery game. While the customer paid for $60 worth of tickets, the lottery terminal had printed $85 worth, leaving $25 worth of unpaid tickets on the counter.The tickets reportedly remained unclaimed in the store overnight.
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