A legal dispute has emerged in Arizona over a $12.8 million lottery jackpot after a ticket was left behind at a convenience store and later purchased by an employee.

The incident took place on November 24 at a convenience store in Scottsdale, Arizona. According to a complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, a customer requested to replay numbers for “The Pick” drawing that evening. A store employee printed $85 worth of $1 lottery tickets. However, the customer only paid for $60 worth, leaving 25 tickets unpaid on the counter.

The remaining tickets stayed at the store overnight and into the next morning.

The following day, it was announced that the store had sold the jackpot-winning ticket. An employee on duty reviewed the abandoned tickets and later, after clocking out and removing his uniform, purchased the remaining tickets from another employee for $10. One of those tickets turned out to be the $12.8 million winner.

The convenience store company has since filed a legal complaint, arguing that under Arizona administrative rules, lottery tickets that are printed but not paid for remain the property of the retailer. The company is asking the court to determine the rightful owner of the prize.

Arizona Lottery officials stated that they are not aware of any previous cases in which both a store and an employee have competing claims to a jackpot of this nature.

The $12.8 million prize is reportedly the fourth-largest “The Pick” jackpot ever sold in Arizona and the largest since 2019.

The court’s decision will determine who ultimately receives the historic prize.

He bought the first ticket on August 12, 2025, covering five drawings, then bought a second on August 18, just in case he had missed the first — and luck struck both times. 

Retired at the time, he and his wife plan to use the prize money to support their children and grandchildren. 

This kind of “moderate jackpot → real-life impact” story shows that even non-jackpot prizes can significantly improve quality of life, making it relatable for many.

Though the exact date is not widely publicized, this type of story remains evergreen and resonates strongly with players across age groups.

Although this story doesn’t yet have a widely cited mainstream source, it represents the kind of real — though smaller-scale — wins that demonstrate: being lucky doesn’t always require mega jackpots.

Such stories tend to inspire confidence and attract people who view lottery playing as casual fun + possible windfall.

The winning ticket was sold at Sunrise Food and Gas (Circle K) in Cottonwood, Shasta County. 

San Francisco Chronicle

Casarotti opted for the lump-sum payout and declined to appear publicly, stating she preferred to stay private. 

She bought the ticket while Mega Millions jackpot was rolling high, opted for Quick-Pick and Double Play on a whim — and ended up matching all five black balls (though missing the red Powerball). 

She said she plans to use the winnings to pay off her mortgage and celebrate her daughter’s wedding.