Georgia Lottery denies millions in prizes to winners of scratch-off games

Comment #36

KY Floyd — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 03:58:21 GMT

just a ridiculous argument that her son scanned the ticket.

And Patel saying the ticket was bought as a birthday present a week before the ticket was available for sale. Since it's rather difficult to buy a ticket that's not on sale yet it's a slam dunk that the ticket wasn't bought when they claim the daughter bought it. Of course I can't be positive, but it's a pretty safe bet that the lottery didn't just ask when it was bought and let it go at that. Odds are the investigator asked more qu... [ More ]

Comment #35

PendingSector — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:42:42 GMT

So, I'll take Georgia's side on all the cases mentioned in the article except for that of Sunitabahen Patel. I did not see any evidence or claim from the state that Sunitabahen Patel either was a store owner, or had any kind of relationship with a store owner; just a ridiculous argument that her son scanned the ticket. It's against lottery rules to give a ticket to your adult child to go independently scan (eg, not contact with a clerk) a scratch ticket to verify that it is indeed a winner? And... [ More ]

Comment #34

lytenpapa1 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 12:50:06 GMT

I am so happy that the Georgia lottery is taking steps to stop the unfairness from retailers that steal from hard-working customers. Some of the new retailers are so dishonest and they need to be banned from selling lottery tickets.

Comment #33

tnwinner — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:14:23 GMT

I know for a fact that this goes on in Tennessee. A store owner I know plays scratch offs and when he wins he sends his son to cash the tickets. They are from India too.

Comment #32

tg2017 — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 16:27:50 GMT

winners who can't identify where or when the game was purchased

I have never heard of this requirement in any state or game. This would deny many, many legitimate winners and I doubt it is stated on the back of a ticket (is it?). If this is a requirement, they had better print out receipts for every scratch ticket sold. They ask for proof they don't provide during the sale! You have a better chance of figuring out when and where you bought that empty Starbucks cup that has been in the back of... [ More ]

Comment #31

noise-gate — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 02:23:17 GMT

Well played Sir

Comment #30

grwurston — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 23:52:28 GMT

As noise-gate's signature says:

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it- George Bernard Shaw

Comment #29

Raven62 — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 20:08:51 GMT

What happened to: government of the people by the people for the people

Comment #28

rhall1206 — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 16:54:17 GMT

Ga lottery hell what about the tickets that worth a prize of $500... there know telling how many them tickets they have cash in....ga lottery we can't win between you and them dam patels .....hell I don't never see them buying no dam tickets......smh

Comment #27

sweetie7398 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 21:01:44 GMT

Comment #26

Cassie8620 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 19:39:41 GMT

CKRAKOWSKI:

I so agree with much said in this post. i had to quote it. yep. you're right.

good luck to the one suing because it is not right.Unless you're having real hard-core proof not

just a last name or whatever, that is silly. i'm following this suit,because to me its relevant.

Comment #25

rhall1206 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 16:00:30 GMT

You are exactly right. Never ever do you see an Indian buying tickets.

Comment #24

EdG1955 — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 22:11:39 GMT

Whether or not there's a legal obligation to provide an interpreter, there is or should be a moral obligation to ensure the person being questioned understands the questions. They should be allowed to bring a friend or family member who can translate.

Comment #23

KY Floyd — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 16:45:56 GMT

Innocent til' proven guilty i still believe in.

They weren't charged with a crime, so they're innocent regardless. Whether or not they won legitimately is a civil matter, and that's determined by the preponderance of the evidence.

I have a customer who spends $100 or more EVERY DAY and he wins a lot.

And what kind of prizes does he win a lot of? At overall odds of 1 in 3 he could be expected to win 20 or 30 prizes a day if he's buying mostly $1 tickets with a few $2 tickets, bu... [ More ]

Comment #22

noise-gate — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 02:43:44 GMT

What Georgia's Lottery is saying is No one is that lucky! You either agree or you disagree. It really is that simple.

Comment #21

ckrakowski — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 02:27:29 GMT

Then there is the tickets either scratch off or mega million/power/other big games that do not get claimed where does that money go,

lukcy6025 that money goes into the genearl fund for the state.

Comment #20

TheGameGrl — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 01:44:51 GMT

Bluedog,interpreters are required for health facilities funded or aided by federal support. That law is irrelevant to gaming and gambling. I think you are creating a wider net then what the federal title 'V' of the civil rights healthcare. I doubt casinos are required to have interpreters on hand to be proficient in over 200 languages..just to receive a payout. And scratchers do fall under gaming/gambling. Perhaps you can find the Georgia law on gaming that backs up your statement though...I'm s... [ More ]

Comment #19

Rodney Lundy — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 22:04:54 GMT

Dam shame take your money and then don't won't to pay up! Show the proof or pay the prizes

Comment #18

Stack47 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 22:00:13 GMT

As for GA lottery, the sticking point might be 'prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt'.

In Kentucky civil suits are preponderance of evidence which is a lower standard than with criminal cases where it's beyond a reasonable doubt .

It looks like the Georgia Lottery is targeting the people who buy the tickets from the winners at a discount. If there are Georgia Lottery rules requiring the person buying the ticket to cash them, players can't create trusts to claim their prizes.... [ More ]

Comment #17

wendy67 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 17:08:37 GMT

I wouldn't be surprised if these are some of the tickets they told people they didn't win on.

Comment #16

TheMeatman2005 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 16:57:08 GMT

Win or Lose, the lawyers always win $$$. They get paid big bucks either way.

I don't know about those people, but I can remember where I purchased my tickets, even if I bought tickets at multiple locations.

If people that owe money to the state or federal govt for taxes or child support paid what was owed, they wouldn't have to give a portion of the winning ticket to someone else to cash it for them.

Comment #15

sandbox — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:23:22 GMT

Seems to me that if they can check security videos to find out that the son had checked the ticket to verify if it was a winner, that they can pull the video footage and see who actually bought the ticket. Every time I have bought a scratch off in GA the clerk always scan it before giving it to me. Couldn't they find the video footage of the actual buyer.

Comment #14

Bleudog101 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:04:14 GMT

You are correct, Federal law stating translators must be provided. Years ago on the front page of the local Louisville, KY newspaper it had my hospital in violation of this for our ER. We did not have person readily available who could speak Saudi Arabian for one of our peds patient's family.

Though it was only a $20 iGift for my birthday with the KY lottery it did not work into the computer. IGT asked where it was purchased, said I don't know it was a gift in the mail, did give them al... [ More ]

Comment #13

Long Odds — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:00:50 GMT

Lottery investigators are not alleging that anyone is attempting to redeem fraudulent tickets; by all accounts these are legitimate winning tickets. Further, no one seems to be claiming that a ticket was stolen from the rightful owner. Seems Georgia will be at a disadvantage in legal proceedings. What is the proof that they were redeeming for someone else even if someone else purchased the ticket? One gave a ticket to a son to scan to check if it was a winner- all recorded by store security- and... [ More ]

Comment #12

TheGameGrl — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:16:15 GMT

A winning ticket is a bearers instrument. Claims pursuant to policy .

No where does it say,must show proof of date purchase,correct residency address at time of claim .

I've received a 'gift ticket's that was a Winner and I couldn't say where it was bought.

Couldn't find any law stating 'claimant is eligible for an interpreter ' .

Ga needs to appreciate repeat players and winners. They are what funds this lucrative business. I'm on the side where transparency is key. This concept... [ More ]

Comment #11

lucky6025 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:08:36 GMT

I do know people cash in tickets for others, this is illegal, but the lottery spends how much to figure this out, between investigators and court. How much time/money does the lottery officials spend trying to find ticket owners that do not come in to claim their prizes, mostly Powerball/Megamillion worth BIG BUCKS. Then there is the tickets either scratch off or mega million/power/other big games that do not get claimed where does that money go, how are we as players to know if there were that

Comment #10

zephbe — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 08:51:58 GMT

The article said 'scratch offs''-not the draw games. Who wins that many scratch offs

Comment #9

Bandit5of7 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 05:22:01 GMT

I play the lottery almost everyday in a well populated area of North Georgia and also play the video machines in the same store for about three hours three or four days a week. I have never seen anyone that appears to be from India come in and buy a lottery ticket. Never.

Comment #8

haveagreatday! — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 05:16:54 GMT

Clarence Dobson, who listed his address as a post office box in Patterson, Ga., was denied prizes of $1,000 and $5,000 in November 2014. A letter to Dobson said the prize money would not be awarded because he had redeemed 43 tickets over a three-year period, and claimed multiple winning tickets on the same day.

I sell lottery tickets at my job. I have a customer who spends $100 or more EVERY DAY and he wins a lot. He has the Total printed for his taxes. He also likes to play Combos, which wi... [ More ]

Comment #7

noise-gate — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 04:40:54 GMT

These guys are good. Notice where they posed for the photograph, against a backdrop of their gods.Not with family,the children, grandchildren, but religious icons. It is a way of attempting to project the we religious, we truthful, we good people. Thing is, Georgia is standing their ground. It is possible that this family have prayed to their gods for help, nothing wrong with that either. Gotta try, right?

After all, was it not the Beatles that sang When l find myself in times of trouble Moth... [ More ]

Comment #6

Cassie8620 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 04:11:20 GMT

LOL @ JOE Big Lotto.

I found that part i read over few x odd.

Discriminative anyone? So what. His last name is Patel.

I just don't like the feel of this article and what's going on. Good they are suing for their five million.

Comment #5

ckrakowski — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 02:09:07 GMT

The lottery is going to lose more than if they had paid out winners.

For example lets say they denied a 5 million dollar jackpot.

Well the person who won that will probably sue them for the 5 million plus more because of all that they have gone through.

Then by the time the lawsuit is over the time limit of paying the jackpot out will have passed so the lottery will say they will not and can not pay because the time limit is over so then the person will sue the lottery be... [ More ]

Comment #4

zephbe — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:31:51 GMT

Good job, GA. Nobody wins that many times on scratch offs.

Comment #3

JoeBigLotto — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:48:24 GMT

I think all Patel's should be banned from playing the lottery all together due to high risk with that name plus listed in no fly too lol based on fraud data with all Patel's lol

Comment #2

Cassie8620 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:46:28 GMT

I was hearing about this on FB earlier on my work break. Many of us @ work are on the couple side though.

Innocent til' proven guilty i still believe in. Hence, good luck on a suit. I read they are suing. Good to know.

and something tells me this couple are going to get a great lawyer to fight this tooth and nail for them. I will follow the story.

Comment #1

music* — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:34:33 GMT

I hope that the Georgia Lottery prevails in this case of discounting. It is about time that these cheaters pay for their crimes.

Georgia Lottery denies millions in prizes to winners of scratch-off games

Lottery Post — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:13:22 GMT

The Georgia Lottery Commission has refused to pay more than $17.1 million in scratch-off game prizes since 2014 the year lottery officials instituted a policy of investigating big-money winners.

The lottery has issued 270 denial letters to winners of $1,000 or more in the past four years, citing a variety of suspicions that could be fraud: people who claim multiple winning games in a relatively short period of time; winners who can't identify where or when the game was purchased; or individua... [ More ]