Who Owns the $12.8M Jackpot? Circle K Files Lawsuit Over Unpaid Ticket

A major lottery drama is unfolding in Arizona after a $12.8 million jackpot ticket was printed—but never paid for—before the draw.

Now, Circle K has taken the issue to court to figure out who actually owns the winning ticket from Arizona Lottery’s The Pick game.

How It All Started

On November 24, 2025, a customer at a Circle K store in Scottsdale asked to replay previously used numbers for that night’s drawing of The Pick.

• The clerk printed 85 tickets at $1 each.

• The customer only paid for 60 tickets.

• 25 tickets were left behind unpaid.

Later that same day, one of those 25 leftover tickets matched all six numbers.

? Jackpot: $12.8 million
? Fourth-largest prize in The Pick’s history
? Biggest Arizona lottery win since 2019

The Twist

According to court documents, store manager Robert Gawlitza allegedly realized one of the unsold tickets had won. The lawsuit claims he:

• Clocked out of work

• Took off his Circle K uniform

• Asked another employee to ring him up

• Purchased the leftover tickets (including the winner) for $10

After that, Circle K’s corporate office took possession of the ticket and filed a lawsuit on February 17 in Maricopa County Superior Court. The company says it simply wants a judge to decide who legally owns the ticket.

Circle K described the filing as a “declaratory judgment complaint”, meaning they’re asking the court for guidance—not accusing anyone directly.

Why This Case Is a Big Deal

Disputes like this are extremely rare.

Under Arizona lottery rules, retailers are responsible for paying for every ticket they print—whether it’s sold or not. State regulations suggest that if a ticket is printed but refused and not resold, it may legally belong to the retailer.

So the big question is:
? Does the winning ticket belong to the store?
? The manager who bought it after the draw?
? Or someone else entirely?

Even the Arizona Lottery called it a “unique situation,” saying it’s unaware of any similar case in its history. The lottery also clarified it is not accused of wrongdoing and is only part of the lawsuit to follow whatever decision the court makes.

What Happens Next?

A judge will determine how Arizona lottery rules apply and who gets the $12.8 million prize.

There’s also a ticking clock:
? Arizona law gives winners 180 days to claim a prize.
? That means the deadline falls in late May 2026.

Until then, the multi-million-dollar ticket remains in corporate hands—while everyone waits to see who will walk away a millionaire.