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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Home -> Forums -> Lottery News -> Florida Lottery won't pay $500,000 winner, called 'misprint' Florida Lottery won't pay $500,000 winner, called 'misprint' Florida Lottery: Florida Lottery won't pay $500,000 winner, called 'misprint'A Florida couple says they have a winning lottery ticket and they want their money, but the the Florida Lottery Commission isn't paying. Ocala resident Joe Curcio thought he hit the jackpot on a scratch-off ticket that shows a prize of $500,000. When he tried to claim his prize he received nothing at the lottery office. Curcio said he bought a legitimate lottery ticket at the Turnpike rest area at Fort Drum. The state said the ticket had a misprint on it. Curcio and his family said it's not their fault the ticket has a misprint and that he should be paid what he's owed. "A deal's a deal," Curcio said. "I believe there's something wrong with the lottery," Annemarie Curcio said. The lottery said it prints about 550 million tickets per year and there is the possibility of a misprint. There are manual, computer and visual checks of tickets submitted for prizes, and the lottery said it uses various layers of security. It also reminds people that the ticket is printed with a warning that all winnings are subject to verification. Lottery Post Staff We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 76 comments. Last comment 5 years ago by . United States Member #28776 December 15, 2005 1191 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 10:31 am - IP Logged | |
Just my opinion here, but if I were to draw up a legal contract and it had a misprint on it, I would still be liable for that contract. I don't see any difference here. They should pay for their misprint mistakes and work harder to make sure there aren't anymore. That is, if in fact, it was their fault. voir-vous dans mes reves! | | |
New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 17914 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 10:37 am - IP Logged | |
A mighty big disappointment: maybe they still have some recourse. A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions! | | |
Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4403 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 10:58 am - IP Logged | |
A Florida newspaper wrote: Annemarie Curcio said they were robbed.
"My husband gave them a real $20 bill and they gave him a fake ticket," she said. I agree with the above comments, and if the mistake isn't obvious, I think they should pay. However, there is a disclaimer stating the Lottery isn't responsible for misprints. Now this is where a boycott would really help!! We need gasoline, but everyone in FL could stop buying scratch tickets for a month and write letters protesting the decision. I read another article in that describes the so-called error, and I still can't figure it out. At least these people aren't poor (not that it should matter) but imagine if someone quit his $7 an hour job and drove to Tallahassee, only to discover his winning ticket isn't valid. So here's a lesson...wait until you have the money in your hand first! I'd like to see a close-up of the ticket. Otherwise, it's difficult to make a judgment. I doubt if this couple would have made the trip to Tallahassee if it didn't look like a legitimate winner. | | |
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 13458 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 11:05 am - IP Logged | |
That's one of the reasons I don't like scratch-offs with large prizes. The state contrives what they think is a fair distribution of winners and where they should come from and if you don't buy your ticket there then you are a loser. Players have the illusion that every ticket could be a winner similar to the tickets of lotteries with drawings. The state probably never planned on anyone turning in a ticket bought at the Turnpike rest area. * THat which happens most *
* is most likely to happen again * 
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Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4403 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 11:10 am - IP Logged | |
Here is a video showing what they consider to be an error. Apparently they did match the numbers, but the 2 letters underneath did not match. Click on "watch video" to view. (don't know if dial-up will work) http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=67738 What a riot! After the news video about this "mishap" there is an ad for a law office. | | |
Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4403 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 11:18 am - IP Logged | |
I have a question for people who buy scratch tickets. The numbers matched and it clearly shows that $500,000 was won. But underneath the first "1" there are 2 letters "th" which stand for thirteen. Is this supposed to be scratched off and removed by the player? If I paid $20 for a scratch ticket and it read "match 2 numbers and win the prize shows" and I matched 2 numbers and saw $500,000 under one of them, I would assume I won too. | | |
United States Member #28776 December 15, 2005 1191 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 11:20 am - IP Logged | |
I still think they should pay. voir-vous dans mes reves! | | |
Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4403 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 12:17 pm - IP Logged | |
I still think they should pay. 
If I sound as if I was disagreeing with you, Spy, I wasn't. I only mentioned the disclaimer because it gives them an "out" if they find a problem with the ticket. If I drove to Tallahassee and was told I couldn't collect, I'd be on every local channel and screaming about it. It's interesting that they would prefer all this negative publicity instead of just paying. Obviously, they aren't worried about the effects of this article. BTW, I am almost certain this has happened in FL before. (I'm still wondering if, when you scratch the number, if the letters that represent it show, although most people wouldn't think about it. I might wonder why "th" was under the number "1" (or not!) | | |
nashville United States Member #50355 February 18, 2007 911 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 12:45 pm - IP Logged | |
i think the florida lotto should pay them because the florida lotto made the misprint and mistake. | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 19728 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 12:47 pm - IP Logged | |
Here is a video showing what they consider to be an error. Apparently they did match the numbers, but the 2 letters underneath did not match. Click on "watch video" to view. (don't know if dial-up will work) http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=67738 What a riot! After the news video about this "mishap" there is an ad for a law office. Why don't you just click the video link at the bottom of the post? It shows the video without all the ads. | | |
Kentucky United States Member #33045 February 14, 2006 2812 Posts Online | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 2:51 pm - IP Logged | |
I have a question for people who buy scratch tickets. The numbers matched and it clearly shows that $500,000 was won. But underneath the first "1" there are 2 letters "th" which stand for thirteen. Is this supposed to be scratched off and removed by the player? If I paid $20 for a scratch ticket and it read "match 2 numbers and win the prize shows" and I matched 2 numbers and saw $500,000 under one of them, I would assume I won too. The reason they put "one" underneath the number 1 and "th" underneath the number 13 is because people could either scratch off the 3 and make it a 1 or scratch off the 1 and make it a 3. I've seen people scratch so hard, the only way they can tell if it's a winner on not is to check the barcode. I suppose those people could take it to court but it's obvious the barcode says it's not a winning ticket. | | |
Wandering Aimlessly United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4403 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 5:05 pm - IP Logged | |
Why don't you just click the video link at the bottom of the post? It shows the video without all the ads. Duh?  You are right! Thanks for pointing that out Todd. | | |
Coastal Georgia United States Member #2703 October 30, 2003 1867 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 5:07 pm - IP Logged | |
I would expect to be paid as well. It will be interesting to see where this goes....... | | |
NY United States Member #24178 October 16, 2005 2127 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 16, 2007, 6:30 pm - IP Logged | |
A Florida newspaper wrote: Annemarie Curcio said they were robbed.
"My husband gave them a real $20 bill and they gave him a fake ticket," she said. I agree with the above comments, and if the mistake isn't obvious, I think they should pay. However, there is a disclaimer stating the Lottery isn't responsible for misprints. Now this is where a boycott would really help!! We need gasoline, but everyone in FL could stop buying scratch tickets for a month and write letters protesting the decision. I read another article in that describes the so-called error, and I still can't figure it out. At least these people aren't poor (not that it should matter) but imagine if someone quit his $7 an hour job and drove to Tallahassee, only to discover his winning ticket isn't valid. So here's a lesson...wait until you have the money in your hand first! I'd like to see a close-up of the ticket. Otherwise, it's difficult to make a judgment. I doubt if this couple would have made the trip to Tallahassee if it didn't look like a legitimate winner. The quote you're agreeing with is wrong. He paid with a real $20 bill and they gave him a real ticket. Like most tickets, it wasn't a winning ticket. Unlike most tickets, it happens to have been a defective ticket. Also unlike most tickets, he gets to trade his losing ticket for another ticket, or he can have his $20 back. When's the last time anyone here got a losing ticket replaced for free?
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