A highly unusual legal battle over a $12.8 million Arizona Lottery jackpot has taken another dramatic turn as former Circle K manager Robert Gawlitza continues fighting for ownership of the winning ticket in court. What initially appeared to be a lucky lottery win has evolved into a complicated dispute involving a convenience store chain, the Arizona Lottery, a former employee, another store worker, and even the customer whose lottery numbers were originally printed.
The case has attracted widespread attention because it raises questions about lottery ownership, retailer rights, abandoned tickets, and whether a ticket purchased after the winning numbers were announced can legally qualify for the jackpot. A judge in Arizona is now tasked with determining who, if anyone, is legally entitled to the multimillion-dollar prize.
How the $12.8 Million Lottery Dispute Began
Customer Purchased Some Tickets but Left Others Behind
The dispute stems from events that occurred on November 24, 2025, at a Circle K convenience store near 56th Street and Bell Road in Phoenix, Arizona.
According to court documents, customer Soonchun “Anna” Kim visited the store intending to replay numbers from previous Arizona Lottery “The Pick” tickets. During the transaction, an error occurred while printing the tickets.
Although Kim intended to purchase $60 worth of lottery tickets, approximately $85 worth of tickets were printed. As a result, 25 tickets remained unpaid and were never purchased. Some court filings indicate several tickets even fell behind the lottery printer before eventually being recovered.
The Winning Numbers Were Drawn That Night
Later that evening, Arizona Lottery officials conducted “The Pick” drawing.
The winning numbers were:
- 3
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 19
- 26
Unknown to everyone at the time, one of the unpaid tickets left inside the Circle K store matched all six winning numbers, making it worth $12.8 million. The jackpot became the largest “The Pick” prize since 2019 and one of the largest in the game’s history.
Robert Gawlitza’s Actions After Discovering the Winning Ticket
Former Manager Allegedly Located the Jackpot Ticket
According to Circle K’s complaint, store manager Robert Gawlitza learned the following morning that the winning lottery ticket had been sold at his location.
After discovering this information, he allegedly searched through the remaining unpaid tickets that had been left inside the store.
He reportedly identified the ticket matching the jackpot-winning numbers.
He Clocked Out Before Purchasing the Tickets
Court filings allege that Gawlitza then:
- Clocked out from work.
- Removed his Circle K uniform.
- Purchased the remaining unsold tickets from another employee for $10.
Circle K argues these actions were significant because Arizona Lottery rules prohibit lottery retailers and certain employees from purchasing lottery tickets while working. The lawsuit suggests Gawlitza removed his uniform and ended his shift before making the purchase in an effort to avoid violating those rules.
Why Circle K Went to Court
Company Says It Wants a Judge to Decide Ownership
Rather than directly claiming the jackpot, Circle K filed a declaratory judgment action asking the court to determine:
- Whether the ticket was ever legally sold.
- Who legally owns the winning ticket.
- Who has the right to collect the $12.8 million prize.
- Whether Circle K can safely comply with the eventual court ruling without future liability.
The convenience store chain named both Robert Gawlitza and the Arizona Lottery in its legal filing because it wanted judicial clarification before the prize is awarded.
Arizona Administrative Rules Are Central to the Case
Circle K relies heavily on an Arizona Administrative Code provision stating that lottery tickets printed by retailers but not purchased by customers remain the property of the retailer.
Because retailers are financially responsible for every ticket printed, Circle K argues that unpaid tickets are not simply abandoned property but belong to the store until properly sold.
This regulation has become one of the key legal issues the judge must interpret.
Former Manager Continues Fighting for the Jackpot
Gawlitza Maintains He Legally Purchased the Ticket
Despite Circle K’s arguments, Robert Gawlitza continues to maintain that he became the lawful owner after purchasing the leftover tickets while off duty.
His position centers on the fact that he paid money for the tickets before claiming the prize.
Recent court filings show he remains committed to defending his ownership claim as the litigation continues.
Another Circle K Employee Also Claims Part of the Prize
Marline Ybarra Entered the Legal Battle
The ownership dispute became even more complicated when another Circle K employee, Marline Ybarra, asserted that she also deserves a portion of the jackpot.
Court filings state that Ybarra was the employee who completed the transaction when Gawlitza purchased the remaining tickets.
She also signed the back of the winning ticket and now argues that this gives her an ownership interest in the prize.
Both Gawlitza and Ybarra are represented by the same attorney, although court records have not established whether they have reached any agreement on dividing the winnings if either succeeds.
The Original Customer May Also Have an Interest
Ticket Was Printed Using Her Requested Numbers
Another major issue is the role of Soonchun “Anna” Kim, the customer whose requested lottery numbers resulted in the winning ticket being printed.
Although she purchased only part of the printed tickets, the jackpot ticket originated from her requested number combinations.
Court proceedings required that Kim be identified and notified before a final decision could be made regarding ownership.
Reports indicate she has not publicly confirmed whether she intends to actively pursue a claim to the winnings.
Arizona Lottery Calls the Case Unique
Officials Say They Have Never Seen a Similar Dispute
The Arizona Lottery has described the case as unprecedented.
Lottery officials stated they are unaware of any previous litigation involving a lottery retailer and one of its employees making competing claims over the same jackpot-winning ticket.
Because of the unusual circumstances, the Arizona Lottery has largely refrained from commenting publicly while the case remains active.
Claim Deadline Suspended During Court Proceedings
Judge Prevents Prize From Expiring
Normally, Arizona Lottery winners have 180 days to claim their winnings.
However, because ownership remains unresolved, the court has effectively suspended the deadline while the legal battle proceeds.
This ensures that none of the competing claimants lose the opportunity to collect the jackpot simply because the lawsuit remains pending.
Financial Stakes Extend Beyond the Jackpot
Circle K Could Also Receive a Retailer Bonus
Arizona Lottery retailers receive a 6.5% commission on ticket sales.
In addition, businesses that sell winning in-state jackpot tickets exceeding $1 million qualify for a $10,000 retailer incentive payment.
That means the ultimate outcome could affect not only the $12.8 million jackpot itself but also additional financial incentives connected to the winning ticket.
Lawmakers Say the Case Could Lead to Rule Changes
Arizona Officials See Potential Gaps in Existing Law
State Representative Jeff Weninger, who chairs Arizona’s House Commerce Committee, has noted that the dispute could expose weaknesses in existing lottery regulations.
He explained that while current administrative rules appear to address ownership of unpaid printed tickets, lawmakers may ultimately decide that additional legislation is necessary to clearly define ownership in situations like this.
The outcome of the case could therefore influence future Arizona Lottery policies and retailer procedures.
What Happens Next
The Maricopa County Superior Court will ultimately determine whether the winning ticket was legally sold and who is entitled to claim the $12.8 million Arizona Lottery jackpot.
As of the latest court filings, the competing interests include former Circle K manager Robert Gawlitza, Circle K’s legal position regarding ownership of unpaid tickets, employee Marline Ybarra’s asserted interest, and the involvement of customer Soonchun “Anna” Kim, whose requested numbers produced the winning ticket.
Until the judge issues a final ruling, the prize remains unclaimed, making this one of the most unusual lottery ownership disputes ever faced by the Arizona Lottery.
