Circle K Files Lawsuit Over $12.8 Million Arizona Lottery Ticket Left Behind by Customer
Circle K Stores has filed a lawsuit in Arizona state court seeking a ruling on who owns a $12.8 million lottery ticket printed at one of its Scottsdale locations after a customer left it behind.
The complaint, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, asks a judge to clarify the legal rights to the lottery ticket before any prize money is distributed. The disputed ticket matched all six numbers in a November 24, 2025, drawing of The Pick, an Arizona Lottery game, making it one of the largest jackpots in the game’s history and the biggest prize awarded in the state since 2019, according to the Arizona Lottery.
Court filings state that a customer visited a Circle K in Scottsdale and asked an employee to replay previously used numbers for that evening’s drawing. The employee printed $85 worth of tickets. The customer paid for $60 and left the remaining tickets at the store
Later that night, the Arizona Lottery announced the winning numbers. One of the unclaimed tickets matched all six numbers, making it worth $12.8 million.
The following morning, store manager Robert Gawlitza reported for work and learned that a winning ticket had been printed at the location, the complaint states. He located the remaining tickets and confirmed that one was the jackpot winner.
Circle K is seeking what is known as a declaratory judgment. A declaratory judgment does not award damages. It allows a court to define the legal rights of the parties when ownership or responsibility is disputed. Companies often seek such orders when holding property or funds subject to competing claims.
The case turns on a basic question of property law: whether the customer abandoned the ticket or merely left it behind. Under long-standing legal principles, abandoned property may be claimed by someone who takes possession of it, but abandonment requires intent. A person must voluntarily give up ownership with no plan to reclaim it. Property that is lost or accidentally left behind is treated differently, and the original owner may still have a legal claim.
That distinction may determine who ultimately owns the ticket. If a court finds the customer intended to relinquish the unpaid tickets, the store’s position may be stronger. If the ticket was simply forgotten, ownership may not automatically transfer to someone else who later found it.
Lottery tickets are generally treated as bearer instruments, meaning the person who possesses the physical ticket may claim the prize if all rules are satisfied. Possession is strong evidence of ownership, but it is not absolute proof. When disputes arise, courts may review payment records, store policies, surveillance footage, and witness testimony to determine who has the superior legal right.
Arizona Lottery rules require a winning ticket to be presented and validated before payment. Tickets must be signed and submitted within a specified time period. Lottery regulations vary by state, and each jurisdiction sets its own procedures for validation, claim deadlines, and dispute resolution. When ownership is disputed in Arizona, the lottery may withhold payment until a court resolves the matter.
The lawsuit does not seek the jackpot itself. Instead, the company asks the court to determine the lawful owner so the $12.8 million can be paid to the proper party.
