A Circle K store manager in Arizona has become embroiled in a complex legal dispute with his employer after purchasing an unclaimed lottery ticket that subsequently yielded a staggering $12.8 million jackpot. The case centers on whether the manager or the corporation rightfully owns the winning ticket, with a court now tasked with making the final determination.
The Controversial Purchase
According to court documents filed on February 18 and obtained by AZ Family, the incident began on November 24, 2025, at a Scottsdale Circle K location. A customer had ordered 85 lottery tickets but only paid for 60, leaving 25 tickets unclaimed and sitting at the store overnight. The following day, manager Robert Gawlitza, 44, reportedly discovered that his store had sold the winning 'The Pick' ticket.
Court filings allege that Gawlitza then clocked out, changed out of his uniform, and reentered the store to purchase the leftover tickets from a fellow employee for just $10. Circle K claims in their lawsuit that Gawlitza scanned through all remaining tickets before identifying the winning one. He reportedly signed the back of the ticket but never had the opportunity to cash it in before Circle K management intervened.
Corporate Intervention and Legal Arguments
Circle K management stated they were alerted that a winning ticket had been purchased at one of their locations. The company subsequently took possession of the ticket and has held it at their corporate offices pending resolution of the ownership question. In their legal filing, Circle K cites Arizona Administrative Codes governing the state lottery program, which state: 'If a retailer accepts a returned draw game ticket from a player or generates a draw game ticket refused by the player and the retailer does not resell the ticket, the lottery shall deem the draw game ticket to be owned by the retailer.'
This $12.8 million prize represents the fourth largest in 'The Pick' lottery's history, according to Newsweek. The winning numbers drawn that day were 3, 13, 14, 15, 19, and 26, as reported by the New York Post. Both Gawlitza and the Arizona Lottery are named in the legal filing, though Arizona Lottery rules do not explicitly prohibit employees from purchasing lottery tickets.
The Race Against Time
Arizona state law requires winners to claim prize money within 180 days of the winning numbers being drawn. This means the Maricopa Superior Court has until approximately May to determine rightful ownership of the ticket drawn in November. The timing adds urgency to what all parties acknowledge is an unusual situation.
In a statement obtained by People, a Circle K representative emphasized their commitment to 'doing the right thing and maintaining a strong, transparent partnership with the Arizona Lottery.' They clarified that the lawsuit represents 'a declaratory judgment complaint filed to seek clarity from the court to determine rightful ownership of this lottery ticket' rather than an action against any particular party.
Unprecedented Legal Territory
Arizona Lottery officials have characterized the situation as unique, with Public Information Officer Cydeni Carter stating, 'We are not aware of any prior litigation of this sort involving the Arizona Lottery.' The case raises questions about corporate policies regarding employee purchases of lottery tickets at their workplace, though Circle K's specific policy on this matter remains unclear.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Circle K, Gawlitza, the Arizona Lottery, and the Maricopa Superior Court for additional comment. As the legal proceedings continue, the case highlights the complex intersection of retail operations, lottery regulations, and employee rights when substantial financial windfalls are involved.
