*A Scottsdale Circle K manager is facing a legal dispute after allegedly purchasing a $12.8 million lottery ticket that had been left unattended on the store counter. The incident took place on November 24 during “The Pick” drawing, one of Arizona’s largest in-state lottery games.
According to the New York Post, court documents state that a customer requested 85 $1 tickets but only paid $60, leaving 25 unpaid tickets on the counter overnight. The tickets remained there until Robert Gawlitza identified the jackpot-winning numbers among them. After clocking out, he removed his Circle K shirt and purchased the tickets, including the jackpot ticket from a coworker for $10.
Circle K management was notified and instructed that the ticket be held at the corporate office until a judge could determine the rightful owner. The company filed a complaint against Gawlitza and the Arizona Lottery, citing the Arizona Administrative Code, which allows retailers to claim unsold tickets that a customer refuses to pay for. The store itself did not claim ownership but requested judicial guidance to resolve competing claims.
The Arizona Lottery described the case as unprecedented. “This is a unique situation, and we are not aware of any prior litigation of this sort involving the Arizona Lottery,” a spokesperson said…