Scratchcard Fraud in Rome, €25 Million Seized in Alleged €24 Million Gratta e Vinci Scheme

Italian authorities have frozen more than €25 million in assets belonging to five former employees of a lottery concessionaire. Investigators allege the five used confidential computer-system information to identify four winning Gratta e Vinci scratchcards worth €24 million in total before the tickets reached retailers.

Current status (as of October 24, 2026): The five people have not been found liable by any final judgment. The October 2026 action is a conservative (precautionary) seizure ordered within a Court of Auditors proceeding, brought to protect a public-damage claim by Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM). A separate criminal investigation into suspected fraud against the state was reported earlier in 2026. The concessionaire itself is reported as uninvolved. This is not a consumer class action, and no public claim form exists for scratchcard players.

Scratchcard Fraud in Rome: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Country	Italy
Case status	Seizure ordered; liability not yet decided; no final conviction reported
Investigation led by	Guardia di Finanza, Rome Provincial Command
Judicial authorities	Lazio Regional Prosecutor’s Office and the judicial section of the Court of Auditors
People targeted	Five former employees
Lottery product	Gratta e Vinci instant scratchcards
Alleged jackpot winnings	€24 million across four tickets (two of €7 million, two of €5 million)
Alleged public financial damage	More than €25 million (€25,067,224 per March 2026 reporting)
Assets frozen	25 real estate units, five vehicles and financial assets
Seized property locations	Provinces of Rome, Viterbo, Treviso, Taranto, Grosseto and Reggio Calabria
Ticket sale years in detailed reporting	2015, 2017 and 2019
Concessionaire accused?	No; reported as uninvolved
Official claim website / claim form	None; not a consumer settlement

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

Scratchcards depend on a basic promise: ticket outcomes are chance-based and winning status is not available to the public in advance. The distribution system still has to track which tickets go to which retailers. The allegation is that people with privileged system access used that information to gain an unfair advantage.

The reported sequence:

1. Former employees allegedly used their credentials, and reportedly specially developed software, to identify tickets carrying major prizes.
2. They allegedly determined which retailers were scheduled to receive those tickets.
3. Relatives, friends or acquaintances allegedly bought the identified tickets at those locations.
4. The prizes were redeemed. Reports allege that purchasers kept a portion and transferred the rest to accounts controlled by the insiders.

These are allegations by investigators and the press. The court has not issued a ruling establishing them, and the case filings were not independently reviewed for this article.

Was the Lottery System Hacked?

Not in the sense of an outside breach. The reports describe individuals who had legitimate credentials allegedly misusing information about the distribution and prize status of particular tickets. Nothing reviewed suggests the physical cards were altered or that every Gratta e Vinci ticket was affected.

The line between having access and using it lawfully matters here. An employee may be allowed to use a system for work without being permitted to extract data for personal gain. Whether the conduct meets the legal definition of any computer-related offense depends on what each person was authorized to do and what they actually did.

Which Winning Tickets Were Involved?

Reported location	Reported prize	Year in detailed reporting
Milan	€5 million	2015
Brescia province	€5 million	2015
Foggia	€7 million	2017
Cremona	€7 million	2019
Total	€24 million

The full technical method and the exact software used have not been made public in the sources reviewed, so a detailed description of how it operated would go beyond what can be verified.

Why Do the Figures Differ? (€24M, €25M and $27M)

Figure	Meaning
€24 million	Combined value of the four reportedly identified winning tickets
€25,067,224	Public-damage amount reported in March 2026
More than €25 million	Value of assets frozen in October 2026
About $27–28 million	U.S.-dollar conversion used by some English-language outlets

These are not separate stolen sums. Prosecutors’ damage theory reportedly covers both financial harm to the state and harm to the image of public administration, which is why it exceeds the prize total. A claim is not a final award, and the defense can challenge both the amount and the causal link.

Why Did Authorities Freeze the Assets?

The seizure reportedly covers apartments, villas, garages and cellars, five cars and motorcycles, and financial assets across six provinces. Italian accounting-justice rules (Legislative Decree No. 174/2016, including Article 74) allow a conservative seizure before the main case is decided, so assets that may be needed to satisfy a future judgment are not lost in the meantime.

A conservative seizure is not a confiscation or a conviction. It restricts the sale or transfer of covered property while the case proceeds. A judge can confirm, modify or revoke it, and the assets may be released if the court later finds no liability or reduces the claim.

The State-Treasury Damage Claim

The term danno erariale means damage to public finances. The Court of Auditors must decide whether the individuals bear financial responsibility for the alleged damage. This differs from a private lawsuit: the state is protecting its own financial interests, not seeking compensation for players who bought losing tickets.

Which Italian Laws Could Apply?

The reports do not provide a verified list of formal criminal charges. The provisions below are relevant legal context, not confirmed counts.

• Public-damage liability (Legislative Decree No. 174/2016): the framework for the pending Court of Auditors case and the seizure.
• Fraud (Article 640, Penal Code): deception to obtain an unjust benefit at another’s expense. A criminal investigation into suspected fraud against the state was reported in March 2026.
• Computer fraud (Article 640-ter): unauthorized intervention in computer data or systems to obtain an unjust benefit. Whether it applies depends on what the individuals did and whether it exceeded their permissions.
• Unauthorized access (Article 615-ter): entering or remaining in a protected system against the will of the person entitled to exclude others. Because the reports say existing credentials were used, whether this applies is a question for the evidence.
• Participation by others: relatives or acquaintances who bought tickets are not automatically criminally liable. Investigators would have to establish each person’s knowledge, intent and conduct.
• Presumption of innocence (Article 27(2), Italian Constitution): no one is considered guilty until a final conviction. An asset freeze is not a verdict.

For related background on allegations involving confidential information, see AllAboutLawyer’s Jane Street Lawsuit, Terra Insider Trading Claims Explained, a U.S. civil case with different facts and laws. For another case involving computer access, read Amir Barati Extradited To U.S. Over Alleged $3.4B Cyber Theft. For how an allegation, a freeze and a plea differ procedurally, see Hasan Korkmaz Pleads Guilty To Federal Identity Theft. None of these decides the Italian case.

What Role Does ADM Play?

The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) oversees Italy’s regulated lottery and gaming system. Instant lotteries operate under concession, and winning tickets are validated through the concessionaire’s system. ADM is identified as the public administration allegedly harmed, because major prizes were allegedly diverted by non-public information. Current ADM materials identify Lotterie Nazionali S.r.l. as the instant lottery concessionaire, while some reports refer to the earlier Lottomatica identity. Similar names should not be treated as proof that the entities are legally identical.

Did the Scheme Affect Every Gratta e Vinci Ticket?

No evidence reviewed suggests that. The allegation concerns four specific tickets and the misuse of privileged information about them, not a change to the outcome of every ticket. ADM publishes game rules and probability information for each product, and ordinary odds should not be read as proof that this alleged scheme was widespread.

What Happens Next?

• Review of the seizure: the judge may confirm, modify or revoke it, and the defendants can contest it.
• The main Court of Auditors case: it must decide whether the alleged damage occurred, who is responsible and how much, if anything, must be paid. The final amount may differ from the claim.
• The criminal track: the status of the separate fraud investigation, any formal charges and any trial date were not established in the sources reviewed.

Different proceedings can arise from the same events, each with its own purpose and standards.

Could the Frozen Assets Be Returned?

Yes, depending on the outcome. If the seizure is revoked or reduced, assets may be released. If liability is later established, the secured assets may help satisfy the judgment, subject to the applicable procedures and any challenges.

Is There a Settlement or Claim Form for Players?

No. No public settlement or consumer claim form has been identified. People who bought losing Gratta e Vinci tickets have no automatic right to compensation from this case, and it is not described as a class action. Be cautious of unofficial ads promising refunds or a share of the seized money. The freeze protects a public-administration claim, not a consumer payout fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scratchcard fraud case in Rome?

Italian authorities allege five former employees of a lottery concessionaire used confidential system information to identify four winning Gratta e Vinci tickets worth €24 million. Associates allegedly bought the tickets before ordinary players could, and more than €25 million in assets were later frozen.

How much money was involved?

The four tickets reportedly carried €24 million in prizes. A separate March 2026 report identified alleged public damage of €25,067,224.

Why were more than €25 million in assets seized?

The Court of Auditors ordered a conservative seizure to protect the state’s potential claim. It reportedly covers 25 properties, five vehicles and financial assets in six provinces.

Have the five former employees been convicted?

No final conviction was identified. The latest proceeding concerns alleged liability for public damage, and a separate criminal investigation was reported earlier.

Did the lottery company commit fraud?

No. The concessionaire is described in reporting as uninvolved and not accused of wrongdoing.

Were all scratchcards in Italy affected?

No evidence of that was found. The allegation concerns four specific winning tickets.

Which laws could apply?

Possible areas include fraud (Article 640), computer fraud (Article 640-ter) and, depending on access evidence, unauthorized access (Article 615-ter). The Court of Auditors case runs under Legislative Decree No. 174/2016. Formal criminal charges must be confirmed from the criminal case records.

Can ordinary players claim part of the €25 million?

No. No consumer compensation program has been announced.

Is the asset freeze permanent?

No. It is a preventive measure that a judge can confirm, modify or revoke, and final responsibility must still be decided.

What happened to the winnings?

Reports allege purchasers kept a portion and passed the rest to accounts controlled by the insiders. The full payment trail has not been verified from court documents here.

Bottom Line

Italian authorities allege that insiders used confidential system information to identify four jackpot tickets worth €24 million before sale. More than €25 million in assets of five former employees has been frozen to protect the state’s potential claim. The freeze is preventive, the damages figure is a claim, and the allegations have not been established by a final judgment.

As of October 24, 2026, no consumer settlement or claims process had been announced. The next developments depend on the Court of Auditors’ review of the seizure and the proceedings on responsibility.

Sources and Verification

1. La Stampa, “Four Winning Gratta e Vinci Tickets Worth €24 Million Identified in Advance,” October 23, 2026: https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2026/10/23/news/roma_truffa_gratta_e_vinci_sequestro_25_milioni_ex_dipendenti-15774751/
2. RaiNews, “Software Used to Identify Winning Tickets; Public Damage Exceeds €25 Million,” March 25, 2026: https://www.rainews.it/tgr/lazio/articoli/2026/03/software-per-individuare-i-biglietti-vincenti-danno-erariale-oltre-25-milioni-fcf6652b-753c-4fed-9e07-9616b63a587e.html
3. La Repubblica, “Gratta e Vinci Fraud Investigation and €25 Million Asset Seizure,” October 24, 2026: https://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/10/24/news/gratta_e_vinci_truffa_biglietti_vincenti_parenti_sequestro_25_milioni_roma-425672055/
4. Sky TG24, “Five Former Lottery Employees Face Proceedings Over Alleged Winning-Ticket Scheme,” October 23, 2026: https://tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2026/10/23/gratta-e-vinci-truffa-biglietti-vincenti
5. Adnkronos, “Gratta e Vinci Case: Assets Seized From Five Former Employees,” October 24, 2026: https://www.adnkronos.com/cronaca/truffa-gratta-e-vinci-ex-dipendenti-infedeli_6dihj1Ejl6IwVIMPU11ZuA
6. Casino.org, “Lottery Employees Knew Where Winning Tickets Would Be Sold in Alleged $27 Million Scheme,” October 23, 2026: https://www.casino.org/news/lottery-employees-knew-where-winning-tickets-would-be-sold-in-alleged-27m-scam/
7. ADM, How Instant Scratchcard Lotteries Work: https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/monopoli/giochi/lotterie/lotterie_istantanee/lot_ist_gioca
8. ADM, Instant Lottery Retailers and Concession Arrangements: https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/monopoli/giochi/lotterie/lotterie_istantanee/lot_ist_rivenditore
9. ADM, Instant Lottery Rules and Regulation: https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/monopoli/giochi/lotterie/lotterie_istantanee/lot_ist_normativa
10. ADM, Winning Probabilities for Instant Lotteries: https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/monopoli/giochi/lotterie/lotterie_istantanee/lot_ist_note
11. Italian Code of Accounting Justice, Legislative Decree No. 174/2016: https://www.normattiva.it/eli/id/2016/09/07/16G00187/CONSOLIDATED/
12. Italian Penal Code, Article 640-ter (legislative text): https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn%3Anir%3Astato%3Adecreto.legislativo%3A2021-11-08%3B184~art2=
13. Constitution of the Italian Republic, Article 27, Italian Senate: https://www.senato.it/istituzione/la-costituzione/parte-i/titolo-i/articolo-27

Editorial verification note: The March and October reports agree on the core allegation and the €25 million-plus seizure. Coverage differs on some details: the October action targets five former employees, while one industry publication describes six people in the wider historical scheme, and one later article refers generally to events dating to 2020 while detailed reporting places the ticket sales in 2015, 2017 and 2019. The underlying case filings were not independently obtained, so these differences are not resolved here.

Informational disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is a legal information website, not a law firm. The allegations remain unproven, the asset seizure is not a final confiscation, and the competent courts must determine liability under Italian law.