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Posted on 07/12/2026 6:16:51 PM PDT by Ahithophel
A Circle K store clerk alleges that he followed company policy amid a legal battle over who rightfully owns a winning lottery ticket worth $12.8 million.
Circle K filed a complaint against store clerk Robert Gawlitza in February accusing him of trying to cash in the winning lottery ticket that a customer left behind at the store on Nov. 24, 2025, according to ABC 15, AZ Family and 12 News Phoenix.
The customer bought multiple tickets for “The Pick” lottery game, in which players must match six numbers on their tickets to the six numbers called, according to the complaint, per the outlets. Gawlitza reportedly printed $85 worth of tickets, but the customer only paid for $60 worth, leaving $25 worth of tickets on the counter.
The remaining tickets were left unattended in the store until the next morning, and the winning numbers were called. Gawlitza clocked out of work that same day and purchased the abandoned tickets from an employee, the lawsuit alleges, per the outlets.
Gawlitza’s attorney Josh Kolsrud claimed to ABC 15 that his client followed store policy, which requires employees to purchase any leftover lottery tickets, and he even contacted his supervisor, a district manager, to confirm he could purchase the tickets before buying them.
“So, if you accidentally print them out and they go unsold, it’s the industry practice for the person who prints them out to be responsible to pay for them. If not the person, then the store manager,” he told ABC 15, adding that another store employee even rang him up.
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
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Yeah, I say the employee didn’t do anything wrong
Gawlitza’s attorney Josh Kolsrud claimed to ABC 15 that his client followed store policy, which requires employees to purchase any leftover lottery tickets, and he even contacted his supervisor, a district manager, to confirm he could purchase the tickets before buying them.
“So, if you accidentally print them out and they go unsold, it’s the industry practice for the person who prints them out to be responsible to pay for them. If not the person, then the store manager,” he told ABC 15, adding that another store employee even rang him up.
If the above is true, I don’t see that he’s done anything wrong.
the tickets were not “left behind” the customer didn’t pay for them and thus didn’t get them.
Thhatts why the clerk at the gas station wants me to buy one of the extra tickets laying by the cash register. Either way I dont expect too win. So why not buy one?
If he purchased a ticket that a customer declined to purchasw, he did nothing wrong.
AI Overview Circle K enforces an unofficial, yet well-documented policy that requires employees or store managers to purchase accidentally printed or otherwise unpaid-for "unsold" lottery tickets. This policy has become the subject of major legal disputes—such as a heavily publicized $12.8 million jackpot case—over whether corporate or the employee legally owns tickets claimed under these rules.
Don’t ever ever win the lottery and tell people about it. 22 years ago I won 2nd prize $175,000 in the NY Mega lotto and I had every body and their mother calling me up asking for cash, asking me to invest in their business and that was just $175K where I went home with $110k after taxes. I cant even imagine winning millions.
Finders keepers.
Scummy company, scummy rules and now they want to renege because the guy won. Circle-K should lose and the guy should then sue them for mental anguish.
your odds of winning are statistically similar if you forget to buy a ticket too.
Circle k..isnt that a Kroger company
Home of overpriced food..unless you have coupons.
Maybe with the $12M they’ll be able to keep floating crust out of the coffee or replace the hot dogs sooner than every 24 hours? Last time I ever bought something in Circle K...20+ years ago.
[snip] Circle K filed a complaint against store clerk Robert Gawlitza in February accusing him of trying to cash in the winning lottery ticket that a customer left behind at the store on Nov. 24, 2025... The customer bought multiple tickets for "The Pick" lottery game... Gawlitza reportedly printed $85 worth of tickets, but the customer only paid for $60 worth, leaving $25 worth of tickets on the counter. The remaining tickets were left unattended in the store until the next morning, and the winning numbers were called. Gawlitza clocked out of work that same day and purchased the abandoned tickets from an employee, the lawsuit alleges, per the outlets. Gawlitza's attorney Josh Kolsrud claimed to ABC 15 that his client followed store policy, which requires employees to purchase any leftover lottery tickets, and he even contacted his supervisor, a district manager, to confirm he could purchase the tickets before buying them. [/snip]
So, what's the problem? Circle K wants to get the money away from one of their probably underpaid employees?
no, it’s not owned by Kroger ...
The lottery is a tax on people that didn’t do well in math.
I’m confused about one thing- did he buy the ticket before or after the drawing?
Customer asked for more than he had money to pay for, then says what he left behind, unpaid for, belongs to him.
Lol.
His attorney is the only one who will make some money from this.
After the draw.
The next morning, store manager Robert Gawlitza allegedly found the winning ticket, clocked out of work, changed out of his Circle K uniform and then purchased the leftover tickets for $10, according to the lawsuit.
The case now hinges on whether Gawlitza legally purchased the ticket or improperly used insider knowledge after learning a winning ticket had been sold at the store.
“Who goes out to their car and changes their clothing to come in to purchase tickets unless you have a plan?” attorney Josh Kolsrud said.
Kolsrud said the key issue is what the store manager knew before buying the tickets.
“If there’s any evidence that he was aware of what was going on, and used that knowledge, that insider knowledge, to buy that ticket, Circle K wins this case,” Kolsrud said.
The headline is very misleading. It reads as if the customer paid for the tickets left behind.
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