D.C. woman's 'winning' scratch ticket voided

Sep 9, 2015, 7:58 am (25 comments)

Virginia Lottery

Includes video report

A Washington, D.C. woman is taking on the Virginia Lottery after she bought a winning ticket worth $20,000 but is not getting the money. The lottery said the ticket was issued in error.

"When I saw that $20,000, you don't know how excited I was," said Ardella Newman.

On Aug. 22, at a lottery machine inside Shoppers in Alexandria, Newman thought she hit it big. On a $2 scratch-off ticket she matched the number 16 — for $20,000.

"$20,000 could really, really help me," said Newman. "I have a sister who is in Syracuse. She's very sick. I could help her with her medical bills."

But Newman's dreams of helping her sister disappeared when she tried to cash in the ticket. Lottery officials told her there had been a mistake; the ticket was issued in error.

A normal ticket has the winning numbers on the top. Newman's ticket had the winning numbers on the bottom, suggesting the machine cut the ticket in the wrong spot.

A manager at Shoppers said only trained lottery officials are allowed to load the machines. Newman contends if there was a mistake, that's not her fault; she paid for the ticket and she should get the winnings.

"I want the money that I thought I won. If you look at the ticket, it says I won this money. It wasn't anything that I did wrong. It's what they did wrong," concluded Newman.

Newman filed a complaint with the Virginia Lottery, which is investigating.

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WJLA

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

The real mistake was trusting the Virginia Lottery to payoff on a ticket that says its a Winner.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on Sep 9, 2015

The real mistake was trusting the Virginia Lottery to payoff on a ticket that says its a Winner.

Exactly.

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Another vending machine problem. I rarely buy tics from machines anymore.

Crazy Wombat

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Sep 9, 2015

Another vending machine problem. I rarely buy tics from machines anymore.

So do I understand this right ... there are two possible losers ... this woman and also someone else with part of the other ticket that was actually the winner. There was maybe no way the other person could win unless they have the bar code on their ticket to scan ... saying winner or see clerk ... but they would not have the part showing $20,000.

The lottery should make good for both persons or give some compensation.

It was their mistake ... or do I not understand something?

CW

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Quote: Originally posted by Crazy Wombat on Sep 9, 2015

So do I understand this right ... there are two possible losers ... this woman and also someone else with part of the other ticket that was actually the winner. There was maybe no way the other person could win unless they have the bar code on their ticket to scan ... saying winner or see clerk ... but they would not have the part showing $20,000.

The lottery should make good for both persons or give some compensation.

It was their mistake ... or do I not understand something?

CW

Good point. I suppose the tic with the bar code is the winner. IF....the person that bought it scans it. By just looking at it they might think it's a loser.

Crazy Wombat

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Sep 9, 2015

Good point. I suppose the tic with the bar code is the winner. IF....the person that bought it scans it. By just looking at it they might think it's a loser.

Also a good point ... the actual real winner may have thrown the "winning ticket" away not seeing any prize.

If they double check (scan) their tickets before throwing them away ... maybe they could catch it or someone checking tickets in the trash might get lucky.

Wow ... wonder if the VA Lottery would refuse to pay on the actual winning ticket since it wasn't "cut" right but has the bar codes?

CW

atoz

well the way i see it is ....its their game...they are the professionals....its their problem,   Pay the lady, Virginia Lottery. I dont care if it was in error, you owe her.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

 this is why I don't trust scratchers to start with

lucky6025

The State should pay the lady her money and sue the company that made the mistake plain and simple

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on Sep 9, 2015

 this is why I don't trust scratchers to start with

I Agree!  my thoughts exactly

rochanda12

Thats terrible they should do something for this lady  because it was there error .who would buy a scratch off only to be told your ticket is a error no win ...smh..

dr65's avatardr65

No.

She did not win and should not be paid.

16 was not a number on her ticket. So what if it didn't cut right...both probably lost.

It would be like buying 2 tickets and making a match from 'your numbers' on either ticket.

You can't do that and if she had the remainder of the cut off ticket, it would be clear to

everyone she did not win...ticket for ticket. 

Is this her first time playing or is she trying to pull off what she knows isn't right?

Good luck.

I would reject the ticket also, it's not a winner.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Thumbs DownAlways looking for any excuse to screw and ripoff the players. Shame on you!!!. Just pay the lady.

m3347

The lady did not win.  What she ended up with is parts from two different tickets. She is either a moron or a cheat by trying to get a free payday out of this obvious mistake.  The lotteries only responsibility would be to replace the ticket(s) issued in error, with another ticket.

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