Man scratches a $1M winner, but lottery ticket was a misprint

Comment #53

luckyshoes — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:13:03 GMT

Comment #52

RJOh — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:47:53 GMT

There has been enough of such cases over the years that the public should consider itself WARNED.

Comment #51

mjwinsmith — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:22:30 GMT

Thank you, thank you. You should be a lawyer, good argument and I agree with you all the way.

They KNEW there where misprinted tickets out there, so what did they DO to rectify the situaltion?

Wait for some poor sap to come in and think they are a winner and say to them, Sorry Sucker.

Or take a more pro-active roll and recall the tickets. Oh, but wait, if they do that they will lose money on the other million of tickets not misprinted.

They should have a better way of handling this

Comment #50

maximumfun — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:33:48 GMT

I was going by the theory that we become more like those that we are around (dogs look more like their owners - or maybe its the other way around... warm water cools to room temp... everything moving toward equilibrium)... hence my thought that I should be around those who win more/come close more. ... and not participating in any pools (potentially too messy for my taste)

And my tracking my own? Thus far its pretty easy. 8$/week spent 0$/week won = 8$/week 'invested in the education of our y... [ More ]

Comment #49

spy153 — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:53:47 GMT

This is why I don't play scratch offs. The scratch off industry is too easy to get out of paying up for their own foul ups. So what it was a misprint. I say they should still have to honor that payment. Maybe next time they will work harder not to let it get out of their control

Comment #48

Lucky SOB — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:19:34 GMT

would hate to see that done to me

Comment #47

mcginnin56 — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:56:00 GMT

Ditto

Comment #46

RJOh — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:25:05 GMT

Oh I get it, isn't that the old Homer Simpon's theory of let someone else do it ? You hang with a crowd or pool and someone else in the crowd will pick the numbers and check the tickets.

I've always believed if you want something done, do it yourself and you can be sure it gets done.

Comment #45

rad242 — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:40:49 GMT

He will speak for himself but I tihnk he means to be in the CROWD that picks the winning combinations - lol

Comment #44

RJOh — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:32:38 GMT

How does the crowd you hang out with effect you tracking your lottery wins/losses? Are you in a pool

Comment #43

Jill34786 — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:04:47 GMT

I agree. There should have been auditing/verification prior to selling ANY scratch off tickets. Had the product that was sold been a defective toy instead of a lottery ticket, you can bet that the manufacturer/supplier would be facing legal issues.

The disclaimer that the lottery hides behind is unfair and still leaves itself open especially in circumstances such as this one.

Comment #42

JWBlue — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:58:07 GMT

I would be angry until I read the rules on back of the ticket.

Comment #41

rdgrnr — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:07:32 GMT

Roger that, rad, I'm in for the long haul too (Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise).

Comment #40

rad242 — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:32:14 GMT

Playig the lottery for regulars shoud be a long term strategy. I earned that the hard way. I have been carrying the same numbers for almost 2 years now. Hopefully one of my horses will come FIRST sooner than later

Comment #39

maximumfun — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:28:05 GMT

wait... RJOh - you mean that you also had all 6 numbers but just had not played that draw? and you have found this to be a 'usual' or at least quasi-normal thing for anyone who tracks wins/losses?

i am hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Comment #38

maximumfun — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:26:43 GMT

wow really? i have never had all 6 numbers... i would have been devastated if i had had all the numbers and just had neglected to play (which is why I play every draw). Good for you for it not getting you down

Comment #37

mcginnin56 — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:23:13 GMT

So my time is coming.

Comment #36

rad242 — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:59:25 GMT

Very True

Comment #35

RJOh — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:53:00 GMT

Any player who tracks his wins and loses and keeps records of what he plays or was going to play will eventually have a similar experience.

Even players who buy quick-picks, check and throw them away have similar thoughts when they read someone found a jackpot winning ticket in the trash where they buy their tickets.

Some time the different between winning and losing is the day you played or a couple of numbers plus or minus one.

Comment #34

nexplorer — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:49:16 GMT

A similar thing happened to two freinds of mine a few years ago. They thought they had a winning $5,000,000 scratch ticke t(Massachusetts again). Lottery said it was a misprint. One of these two gentlemen was a lawyer. That didn't help any at all. The lotteries attitude was go ahead and sue us. They sent them each a complimentary $5.00 scratch ticket. Also, be careful checking winning numbers on Mass Lotteries website. Especially on weekends. They use the who you know hiring method and a lot of... [ More ]

Comment #33

mcginnin56 — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:28:53 GMT

Very sorry to hear about your almost jackpot win PERDUE. Have you ever played those numbers again? Was it a state game, or national?

Do you still remember those fateful numbers? Sorry in advance, hope I'm not opening up any old wounds.

Comment #32

PERDUE — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:21:35 GMT

I've been there before myself.

Many many moons ago I had the winning 6 lottery numbers and talked myself out of purchasing them.

The following day I checked the numbers and felt extremely ill.

The combination I talked myself out of purchasing, was the winning combination for $50 million dollars.

I took off work for a week and stayed in bed calling myself everything but human.

That was a very dark time for me because we are our worst critic and we judge ourselves harsher than anyon... [ More ]

Comment #31

dr65 — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:03:49 GMT

Anyone who is satisfied with the lottery's cheap disclaimer and thinks that the man should get a lotto comp pack...put yourself in his shoes.

Imagine how it felt to see a Million dollar win. 3 RED words = $1 Million dollars.

The printing machines printed 2,200 winners of a top prize, they released the tickets, sold them, collected money for them, allowed players to go on buying a defective

batch and are now trying to use the lame excuse that compensation is limited to replacement or tic... [ More ]

Comment #30

JezzVim — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:55:55 GMT

IF the Lottery Commission KNEW they had misprints then they should have distroyed the WHOLE lot of tickets and started over.

BUT they went ahead with the ticket sales and thought that they can void the ticket once it was found by a player?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time for the Lawyers to get rich too now

Comment #29

Scientistman — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:24:11 GMT

Its like a PRANK I seen on a video online and the birthday girl thinks she won $10,000 on a scratcher ticket and then everyone is laughing while she cant understand why everyone is laughing, they're laughing because the scratcher ticket is a NOVELTY FAKE PRANK TICKET.

Then she reads the back of the ticket and it says you can collect your winning from the tooth fairy or Santa or something like that. hahaha she says very funny you all. I hate all of you!

Ok in jest maybe its funny beca... [ More ]

Comment #28

Spincognito — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:53:53 GMT

Again, i was the pay table on the ticket that was misprinted. Not like a misprinted number matched with $1MIL under it. Mass lottery handled it well.

Comment #27

belle$star3! — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:58:38 GMT

I think strongly since this was not the customer's fault, the lottery officials should pay this man because he's an innocent person in this situation.

Comment #26

TheGameGrl — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:48:29 GMT

Unknown how the MA Lottery functions per se. Can say that in actuality its a defective product and as such the guy can file a complaint and be A: reimburst the value of cost. Meaning if ticket cost him 20$ he gets back his twenty or B: If emotional damage occurred to the point of deception, He can file civil suit.

The Lottery in essence Hedged its odds for profits from selling them losers. If publically THEY KNEW about the misprints, they had a DUTY to recall it.

Not a beleiver in jus... [ More ]

Comment #25

PERDUE — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:56:13 GMT

Not understanding why this game was not pulled until all of the mis-printed tickets were accounted for.

Not understanding how the lottery player can look at a scratch-off ticket and know that it is a mis-printed ticket.

The lottery commission knew they had mis-printed tickets in circulation and did nothing to nitify the general public. Those tickets could be construed as fraud. The lottery commission knowingly sold defective tickets.

Yes, the lottery commission should make good on every... [ More ]

Comment #24

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:48:18 GMT

WOW!!!! that's jacked UP

Comment #23

Cletu$2 — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:37:34 GMT

I'm not a lottery hater .But I do believe in fair play and that includes fair play by the state lotterys.

Comment #22

time*treat — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:12:50 GMT

Each redesign does look more and more like Monopoly money.

Comment #21

rad242 — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:40:13 GMT

They knew exactly how many were faulty and those tickets must have serial numbers of some kind and on top of that they can typically track where the scratchies went and at minimum send out notices to this effect, asking retailers to pull and return according to their standard protocols. I have been reading of so many faux pas lately on the part of the vendors and the lottery, I begin to wonder what's coming next? It's not good business to turn this guy away empty handed in the sense that an inci... [ More ]

Comment #20

tntea — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:29:15 GMT

This is so wrong. Mistake or not they should pay him what the ticket had printed . It wasn't his fault he received a misprint of a ticket. What would they think if he gave them a misprint currency for the ticket. Wouldn't they want him to make it good

Comment #19

maximumfun — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:20:51 GMT

I'm with Cletu$2 on this... it would be GREAT P.R.

Comment #18

Spincognito — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:13:26 GMT

he did not win a million dollars. As soon as the misprint was discoved they pulled the tix. So many lottery haters around here.

Comment #17

maringoman — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:59:01 GMT

I only play scratch tickets when I go to NY

Comment #16

Cletu$2 — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:58:15 GMT

I read the article that was on MSN.com The Mass. lottery says that there were 2200 misprinted lottery tickets.My question is:IF YOU KNEW HOW MANY TICKETS WERE MISPRINTED,WHY DIDN'T YOU RECALL ALL OF THE TICKETS SO THAT THIS WOULDN T HAPPEN?HOW LONG WERE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE SELLING THE FLAWED TICKETS?

PAY THE MAN HIS 1,000,000 DOLLARS.IT WILL BE GOOD P.R.

Comment #15

time*treat — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:52:50 GMT

As always, losing tickets are not misprints.

Comment #14

Stack47 — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:34:23 GMT

Must have went to the wrong Mass Lottery facebook page because the one I saw was from Wikipedia. Ironic that in the article the lottery almost bragged about winning a lawsuit filed by a 94-year-old woman who wanted the cash option for her $5.4 million Megabucks ticket.

You have some classy people running the Massachusetts Lottery.

Comment #13

maximumfun — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:32:02 GMT

It's MA... of course A-covering is job #1. (only place better? rhode island

Comment #12

haymaker — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:30:41 GMT

The back of tickets in jersey reads in part

Liability for missprints or other errors is limited to refund or replacement.

I'm sure MA. has covered their azz on this also.

Comment #11

JoeBigLotto — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:22:01 GMT

This is what I don't understand can my lossing ticket be a misprint too and if yes will they pay me my millions even though my ticket print says looser. Lol

Comment #10

psykomo — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:05:30 GMT

CRAP MA

Comment #9

Spincognito — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:01:21 GMT

It was not the playing field or symbols that were misprinted, it was the payout table off to the side of the play area. It was obvious that it was misprinted (or should have been). Crap like this happens. the guy did not win and should not get rewarded. He never even took it to the lottery for verification. Google News the story and you will see a pic of the ticket. Also, Mass lottery FB page gives a better explanation.

Carry on....

Comment #8

mcginnin56 — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:55:06 GMT

Do they get an official sorry loser

Yup, then a quick escort and kick to the rear exit leading into the alley.

Comment #7

mcginnin56 — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:43:50 GMT

I suggested that smaller amount, in lieu of the fact that there were over 2200 defective tickets out there. Obviously $1,000,000.00 would be

the preferred compensation for such a mistake, but something is better than nothing.

Comment #6

RJOh — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:43:14 GMT

The Massachusetts Lottery is suggesting that anyone with a misprinted ticket should contact their Claims/Legal Department.

What does that mean? Do they get an official sorry loser , another ticket and some money for their trouble or is it their way of removing defective tickets out of circulation

Comment #5

mcginnin56 — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:37:39 GMT

There's gonna be a policy change now

Comment #4

maximumfun — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:35:04 GMT

**IF** you are reading this MA Lottery Commission: SHAME on you. SHAME! (typed in 'scolding-mother' font)

NOW go and do the right thing.

Comment #3

dk1421 — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:33:59 GMT

There should definitely be a consolation prize!! And heck, more than $500! Something standard like 1% of the prize they thought they won? He would get $10,000 then - not bad and will keep away lawyers who would take a bigger bite out of the pie.

Comment #2

mcginnin56 — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:43 GMT

One would think there should at least be some consolation prize to atone for such mistakes. To keep good public relations, and as a compromise

to appease the lottery customer, how about a $500 check from the lottery commission? And to give further options, why not offer a choice of

$1000 worth of scratch/on line tickets instead of the check?

If your reading this MA Lottery Commission, loosen your purse strings, and do the right thing

Comment #1

maximumfun — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:25:03 GMT

He should be the winner of 1M.

Man scratches a $1M winner, but lottery ticket was a misprint

Lottery Post — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:20:26 GMT

By Todd Northrop

A Massachusetts man thought he won a $1 million lottery prize until he realized the ticket he had was a misprint.

Paul Pasquarosa of Boston, Massachusetts, was overjoyed when he learned that his Cashword scratch-off lottery ticket had matched three red words, which equals a million-dollar prize.

But luck for the father of two quickly faded when the ticket was determined to be defective.

Instead of becoming a millionaire, Mr. Pasquarosa was in possession of one of the... [ More ]