Lottery company forced workers to buy tickets they 'accidentally' printed — until one won $12.8 million and got sued instead
One abandoned lottery ticket, a manager's split-second decision, and a $12.8 million dispute that's now headed to court
Most lottery disputes follow a predictable script: fractured families, bitter divorces, or coworkers arguing over an office pool. However, a dispute unfolding in Scottsdale, Arizona, took that familiar jackpot drama in a completely unexpected direction. It started when Circle K store manager Robert Gawlitza realized that a customer's misprinted, abandoned ticket matched all six numbers for a $12.8 million jackpot. Although he believed he owned the ticket, what happened next left him stunned. The story only came to light when 12 News (@12NewsAZ) reported it on July 10, 2026, in a clip that has since garnered over 99,500 views.
The accidental ticket
The dispute arose back on November 24, 2025, according to ABC15 Arizona, when a customer attempted to buy a batch of lottery tickets, but the clerk mistakenly printed tickets worth $85 instead of $60. Because the $25 worth of tickets had already been generated by the machine, they were left behind at the counter. The following morning, then-store manager Gawlitza clocked in for his morning shift and checked the previous night's winning numbers against the abandoned slips. To his shock, one of the tickets in excess matched all six numbers, carrying a $12.8 million payout. He described the moment as a "numb feeling" as he stood holding the life-changing slip, trying to figure out how to handle the situation lawfully.
Buying off the clock
Hoping to navigate the company rules perfectly, Gawlitza decided to buy the ticket himself. "I made a managerial decision," he later explained. So, he clocked out of the store to end his shift, proceeded to buy the tickets, and clocked back in. To ensure that he fully complied with the employee handbook, he even changed out of his work shirt before making the personal purchase with his own cash. Naturally, after doing all this, he didn't expect any backlash. But he was wrong.
The sudden termination
Despite Gawlitza immediately texting his district manager to confirm the protocol, receiving a clear "yes" in response, corporate executives reacted differently. Instead of celebrating what he thought was a life-changing win, Circle K terminated him from his job in "January of this year." The corporate office seized the ticket, where it has sat untouched ever since, while the upper management questioned the validity of the sale.
The legal showdown
The corporate giant eventually filed a lawsuit asking the judge to step in and determine the rightful owner of the $12.8 million jackpot. In response, Gawlitza secured legal representation. The defense is now bringing forward the text logs between Gawlitza and the district manager, as well as six affidavits from current and former employees to prove that the transaction validly complied with Circle K's written and unwritten policies.
Disputes are fairly common
While there isn't a nationwide study quantifying how many jackpot winners become involved in legal battles, ownership disputes have surfaced in several high-profile cases. In 2023, for instance, California's record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball winner, Edwin Castro, was sued by a man who alleged the winning ticket had been stolen from him. Although the lawsuit was later dismissed, the case highlighted how life-changing lottery prizes can sometimes spark competing claims over who is entitled to the winnings.
Purchase seems suspicious
Regardless, the people stand with Gawlitza as they shared their thoughts in the comments section. @Patriot.2819 wrote, "He isn't lying. Convenient stores hold store employees accountable for tickets printed, not sold. It counts as a cash shortage if you don't sell them. They hold you accountable for cash shortages." While @Afterthedarkhour-c7x1u argued, "Why didn't he purchase the ticket the day it was printed? I think there wouldn't have been an issue. Him doing it this way looks deceptive."
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