UNDERCOVER LOTTERY INVESTIGATION FINDS RETAILER OWNER TRIED TO MISREPRESENT $1,000 WINNING TICKET

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Lottery announced today that the owner of a Tampa retailer has been issued a Notice to Appear following an undercover investigation that found the owner misrepresented the value of a winning Scratch-Off ticket and attempted to retain the ticket to claim the prize.

On August 19, Florida Lottery Special Agents conducted an undercover compliance investigation at Zoya Shell, located at 3602 W. Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. During the investigation, an undercover agent presented the store clerk, identified as Amar Yasser Hamden, with a winning Florida Lottery Scratch-Off ticket valued at $1,000, a non-winning ticket, and two energy drinks.

Hamden scanned the winning ticket using the Florida Lottery terminal. The terminal indicated the ticket was a winner and generated a Player Claim Instructions receipt confirming that the ticket had a prize valued above $599. Despite the ticket having a $1,000 prize, Hamden told the agent that the ticket was worth only $5 and retained the winning ticket, with the apparent intent to claim the prize later.

After identifying themselves as Florida Lottery Special Agents, the agents questioned Hamden about the location of the ticket. Hamden initially stated that he had thrown the ticket in the trash. During the subsequent investigation, the winning ticket and corresponding Player Claim Instructions receipt were located inside Hamden’s vehicle.

Following the investigation, the Florida Lottery immediately suspended Lottery activity at the retailer and removed Florida Lottery inventory from the location. Hamden was issued a Notice to Appear for violating section 24.118(2), Florida Statutes, relating to the unlawful assignment or transfer of the right to claim a Lottery prize.

“Our retailers are entrusted with serving Florida Lottery players and handling winning tickets with honesty and integrity,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon. “We take that responsibility seriously, and when a retailer violates that trust, we will act to protect our players and the integrity of the Lottery.”

Players should always verify the value of a winning ticket before leaving a retailer. Everyone can verify ticket values using the Florida Lottery mobile app, a self-service ticket checker at participating Lottery retailers, or by asking a retailer to scan the ticket using the Lottery terminal. Players should retain their ticket and receipt after verification.

The Florida Lottery’s Security team continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies to protect the integrity of the Lottery and ensure players are treated fairly. Players or members of the public who wish to report integrity-related concerns are encouraged to contact the Florida Lottery’s Integrity and Intelligence Section at integrityandintelligence@flalottery.com. Reports are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are reviewed promptly.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $51 billion to enhance education and sending more than one million students to Florida’s colleges, universities, and technical schools through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 percent of its revenue into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,600 Lottery retailers, and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid over $110 billion in prizes and created more than 4,900 millionaires. For more information, please visit www.floridalottery.com and be sure to follow the Florida Lottery on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X to stay informed.

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