Terminated After 20 Years: Circle K Manager Contests $12.8 Million Lottery Prize |

A former manager of a Circle K outlet in Scottsdale, Arizona, caught in a legal battle over a $12.8 million lottery ticket, claims he was operating within company guidelines when he purchased the ticket.

Circle K, Arizona Lottery, Robert Gawlitza, $12.8 million lottery ticket, Scottsdale — Robert Gawlitza, the ex-manager of Circle K, maintains he adhered to company rules when buying a lottery ticket that ultimately netted $12.8 million. The court will decide who rightfully claims the winnings. (Image: Shutterstock)

Robert Gawlitza’s legal representative, Josh Kolsrud, informed FOX10 on Friday that his client was terminated after two decades due to his compliance with company policy. According to Kolsrud, the store’s regulations mandated employees to buy any lottery tickets that had been printed but left unpaid by customers.

Lottery Dispute

The conflict initiated on November 24, 2025, when a customer requested $85 worth of $1 tickets for The Pick, a game in the Arizona Lottery where players try to match six numbers drawn later that day.

After realizing she only had $60, the customer abandoned 25 of the tickets on the counter. One of these left-behind tickets later won a staggering $12.8 million jackpot.

The following morning, to ensure compliance with lottery rules that prohibit vendors from purchasing tickets while on duty, Gawlitza clocked out and changed out of his uniform before buying the ticket for $10 from a store employee.

As stated by Kolsrud, Gawlitza reached out to his supervisor, a district manager, to confirm he could go ahead with the purchase.

“His first action was to propose splitting the winnings with a coworker, which demonstrates he had no ill intentions,” Kolsrud remarked.

Circle K management soon learned about the transaction and directed staff to secure the ticket at the corporate headquarters until a court resolves the ownership issue.

Ticket Ownership Debate

In its legal filing, Circle K relies on the Arizona Administrative Code, claiming that retailers hold ownership rights to lottery tickets left unpaid by customers that remain unsold.

The company seeks a judicial ruling to clarify if the ticket was ever legitimately sold and to identify its rightful owner.

As per Arizona Lottery regulations, winners must claim their prizes within 180 days; otherwise, the ticket expires. In a ruling dated May 15, Judge Joseph Kreamer of the Maricopa County Superior Court extended the May 23 deadline for claims by an additional 180 days while the case is ongoing.

Kreamer indicated that the court has not yet reached a decision on the rightful winner.

With eight years of experience at Casino.org, Philip Conneller covers the gaming industry across regions from Las Vegas to Macau. His focus includes gaming law, white-collar crime, international money laundering, tribal gaming, politics, and regulatory issues.

Philip previously served as features editor for Bluff Magazine and helped launch Bluff Europe. His work has appeared in several notable publications, including ESPN, Forbes, Time Out, The Sun, and The Daily Star, as well as industry-specific websites like iGaming Business and eGaming Review.

His articles have been referenced by major outlets like The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, People Magazine, and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.

In a game of poker, Philip famously won $20,000 with a 7-2 off-suit hand. He has also made headlines for inadvertently playing Elton John’s piano on two occasions, once in the U.S. and once in the U.K.

His pursuit of writing stems from his questionable piano skills.

Philip resides near London with his wife and children while passionately supporting Arsenal FC.

For inquiries, reach Philip at [email protected].

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