A man from California who was banking on a $750,000 lottery win is now facing a $150,000 legal bill after an unsuccessful lawsuit against the state lottery.

The ticket presented by James Densley was called into question by the California Attorney General’s Office, stating it had been torn and taped back together with symbols arranged to mimic a winning poker hand.

In April 2022, Densley filed a lawsuit against the California State Lottery Commission for breach of contract after they refused to honor the supposedly winning ticket.

Victorious Move

Densley had purchased a poker-themed Scratchers ticket in September 2021, claiming it showed a flush, trumping the lottery’s three queens hand, potentially entitling him to a $750,000 prize.

However, the lottery rejected his claim three months later, citing that the ticket was altered and not in its original condition.

State lawyers revealed that the ticket had been torn into pieces and reconstructed using tape, with symbols rearranged to create a false winning hand.

Despite Densley’s persistence, a Los Angeles court ruled in favor of the lottery, ordering him to pay $153,200 in legal fees.

Legal Ramifications

While Densley was not directly accused of tampering with the ticket, fraudulent attempts to claim lottery prizes using altered tickets can lead to criminal charges in California, such as grand theft or forgery.

Another individual was convicted for fraud in a similar case in 2018, indicating the seriousness of such offenses in the state.