Circle K vs. Robert Gawlitza, Who Legally Owns Arizona’s $12.8 Million Winning Lottery Ticket?

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against Maricopa County Superior Court records, Arizona Lottery filings, and verified news sources on May 8, 2026. Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Circle K Stores filed a declaratory judgment complaint in Maricopa County Superior Court asking a judge to decide who legally owns a $12.8 million winning lottery ticket — one of the largest prizes in Arizona history. A judge is set to decide on May 15, 2026, and the decision may set a precedent for future cases. The ticket expires May 23. If no valid claim is made before then, the money disappears.

Quick Facts: Circle K v. Gawlitza

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	February 17, 2026
Plaintiff	Circle K Stores, Inc.
Defendants	Robert Gawlitza (former store manager); Arizona Lottery
Alleged Violation	Improper purchase of retailer-owned ticket using insider knowledge; disputed ownership under Arizona Administrative Code A.A.C. R19-3-213(D)(1)
Prize at Stake	$12.8 million — The Pick jackpot drawn November 24, 2025
Who Is Affected	Robert Gawlitza; Circle K corporate; Arizona Lottery
Court & Jurisdiction	Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona
Presiding Judge	Judge Kreamer
Hearing Date	May 15, 2026
Ticket Expiration Deadline	May 23, 2026
Ticket Location	Secured in Circle K corporate safe
Last Updated	May 8, 2026

What Happened on November 24, 2025?

A customer visited the Circle K at 5601 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale on November 24, 2025, and asked an employee to replay previously used lottery numbers for that evening’s drawing of The Pick — an Arizona Lottery game where players match six numbers.

The clerk printed $85 worth of tickets, but the customer paid for only $60 worth at $1 each and left, abandoning the remaining 25 tickets at the store. That night, the Arizona Lottery drew the winning numbers. One of the leftover, unclaimed tickets matched all six — worth $12.8 million.

The following morning, store manager Robert Gawlitza arrived for his shift and learned a winning ticket had been printed at his location. He found the remaining tickets and confirmed one was the jackpot winner. Then he clocked out, removed his Circle K uniform, and had another employee ring him up for the remaining tickets — including the winner — for $10. He signed the back of the ticket.

Circle K management found out and ordered the ticket held at corporate offices, where it remains today.

Are You Part of This Lawsuit?

This is not a class action. You cannot join this case as a plaintiff. The only parties are Circle K, Robert Gawlitza, and the Arizona Lottery.

That said, this case matters to anyone in Arizona who plays the lottery — or works at a lottery retailer. The ruling on May 15 will be the first of its kind involving the Arizona Lottery, and the legal question it answers will shape how these situations are handled going forward across the state and potentially across the country.

If you are a lottery retailer or retailer employee in Arizona and have questions about your own rights regarding printed tickets, a free legal consultation with a consumer rights lawyer or employment attorney can help clarify your obligations.

Related article: Nexstar CEO Perry Sook Calls Tegna Merger Battle “A Fight Worth Having” Here Is Where the $6.2 Billion Case Stands

What Does Arizona Law Actually Say?

This is where it gets genuinely interesting, and why the case has drawn national attention from attorneys and lottery commissions alike.

Under the Arizona Administrative Code, if a retailer generates a lottery ticket that a customer refuses or abandons and the ticket is not resold, the lottery considers that ticket the property of the retailer. Circle K cited this exact rule — A.A.C. R19-3-213(D)(1) — as the basis for its claim that the winning ticket belonged to the store, not to Gawlitza.

Arizona Lottery rules also prohibit store employees from playing any lottery game “while working.” Gawlitza may have been aware of that rule — which legal observers say would explain why he clocked out and changed out of his uniform before buying the ticket.

Attorney Josh Kolsrud, who is not affiliated with the case but has been following it closely, told 12News: “Who goes out to their car and changes their clothing to come in to purchase tickets unless you have a plan? If there’s any evidence that he was aware of what was going on, and used that insider knowledge to buy that ticket, Circle K wins this case.”

Kolsrud also noted that if Gawlitza can show he genuinely did not know the winning numbers ahead of time — essentially that he acted like any ordinary customer — he has a real chance of prevailing.

For context on how courts have handled situations where employees exploit their position for personal gain, see our coverage of the Tracy Morgan Walmart negligence lawsuit, where the central question was also whether a company knew or should have known about a problem before acting.

The Ticking Clock: Why May 23 Changes Everything

Arizona lottery winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim prizes. With the drawing having taken place in November 2025, the deadline is May 23, 2026.

In April, Circle K filed a temporary restraining order asking Judge Kreamer to stop the Arizona Lottery from allowing the ticket to expire on May 23 so that legal proceedings can continue and ownership can be determined before the deadline.

If nobody makes a valid claim by May 23, a portion of the jackpot goes to the lottery’s beneficiaries and the rest goes back into the prize pool. It has happened before — a $14.6 million The Pick jackpot went unclaimed in Arizona in 2019.

This is why the May 15 hearing is so critical. The judge must rule before the ticket expires — or extend the deadline — or $12.8 million vanishes entirely.

What Each Side Is Arguing

Circle K’s position is that the 25 unsold tickets legally became company property the moment the customer walked away without paying for them. Under that reading, Gawlitza’s purchase was either void from the start — because the ticket was never available for him to buy — or improper because he used insider knowledge of the winning numbers to acquire company property for a fraction of its value.

Gawlitza’s position, based on filings reviewed by multiple outlets, is that he purchased the tickets through a legitimate transaction after clocking out, that he was no longer on duty as an employee at the time of purchase, and that his removal from his work uniform makes his purchase legally equivalent to any member of the public buying a ticket.

Circle K has been careful to frame its complaint not as an attack on Gawlitza personally, but as a request for clarity. The company stated: “It is not accurate to characterize this as a lawsuit against any specific party. It is a declaratory judgment complaint filed to seek clarity from the court to determine rightful ownership of this lottery ticket.”

If Circle K is awarded the jackpot, it is unclear exactly where the money would go — but it would almost certainly not be handed directly to Gawlitza, who is listed in the lawsuit as a former employee.

Arizona Lottery $12.8 Million Case Timeline

Milestone	Date
Customer visits Circle K, leaves 25 tickets behind	November 24, 2025
Arizona Lottery draws The Pick winning numbers	November 24, 2025 (evening)
Gawlitza clocks out, buys remaining tickets for $10	November 25, 2025
Circle K secures ticket at corporate offices	Shortly after November 25, 2025
Circle K files declaratory judgment complaint	February 17, 2026
Circle K files temporary restraining order to freeze expiration	April 2026
Hearing scheduled before Judge Kreamer	May 15, 2026
Ticket expiration deadline under Arizona law	May 23, 2026
Expected ruling	TBD — at or following May 15 hearing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit over the Arizona lottery ticket?

 No. This is a declaratory judgment complaint filed by Circle K in Maricopa County Superior Court. It asks a judge to determine who legally owns a single ticket. It is not a class action and does not involve or affect other lottery players.

Do I need to do anything right now if I play The Pick in Arizona? 

No action is required. This case does not affect your ability to buy or claim lottery tickets. However, if you are a retailer employee in Arizona, this ruling may affect your rights around handling unclaimed tickets going forward.

When will the judge decide who gets the $12.8 million?

 A hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2026, in Maricopa County Superior Court before Judge Kreamer. The ticket expires May 23, so a ruling is expected on or very shortly after that date.

Could the money expire and go unclaimed? 

Yes. If no valid claim is made by May 23, 2026, a portion of the jackpot goes to the lottery’s beneficiaries and the rest returns to the prize pool. Circle K’s temporary restraining order is specifically designed to prevent this outcome while ownership is determined.

Can Gawlitza legally win this case? 

Possibly. The key legal question is whether he used insider knowledge of the winning numbers when he made his purchase. An attorney analyzing the case told AZFamily that if Gawlitza can prove he did not know the winning numbers ahead of purchasing, he has a reasonable chance of prevailing.

Has anything like this happened before with the Arizona Lottery?

 The Arizona Lottery said it has never dealt with a situation like this. “This is a unique situation, and we are not aware of any prior litigation of this sort involving the Arizona Lottery,” a spokesperson stated.

What happens if Circle K wins?

 If Circle K is awarded the jackpot, it is unclear exactly where the money would go, but it would almost certainly not be given directly to Gawlitza, who is now a former employee of the company.

Sources & References

• 12News / KPNX — court complaint review and original reporting (February 20, 2026)
• AZFamily — Judge to Rule reporting (May 7, 2026)
• Maricopa County Superior Court — declaratory judgment complaint filed February 17, 2026
• Arizona Administrative Code — A.A.C. R19-3-213(D)(1)
• Casino.org — Circle K TRO filing coverage (May 5, 2026)

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.