Owner of torn lottery ticket wins lawsuit, receives 2 billion VND special prize

On the morning of March 25, the People's Court of Huong Thuy Town, Hue City held a public trial of a civil case of a dispute over lottery ticket prize payment between the plaintiff, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet (residing in Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province) and the defendant, Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd.

After the questioning and debate, the Trial Panel accepted the plaintiff's lawsuit, forcing Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. to pay the prize of 2 billion VND for the ticket with the code 386552, drawn on October 14, 2024, winning the special prize; and pay the first-instance court fee of 72 million VND according to the provisions of the Civil Code.

The Council decided to return the 36 million VND advance payment of court fees that Ms. Nguyet had previously paid to the court.

At the end of the trial, Mr. Le Trung Phuoc, Director of Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd., affirmed that he would execute the judgment when it came into effect, would not appeal, and would invite customers to the headquarters to pay their prizes.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet said that when she receives the prize, she will use the money to take care of her family and support those in difficult circumstances in the area. She also affirmed that she will continue to buy Hue lottery tickets after this incident.

At the trial, Ms. Nguyet's lawyer requested the court to consider and issue a ruling requiring Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. to pay the prize for the winning lottery ticket based on the police's appraisal results.

The Director of Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. confirmed that Ms. Nguyet's special prize winning ticket, according to the appraisal results, is a genuine ticket, has not been erased, and is not a subject of suspicion of fraud.

The representative of the People's Procuracy of Huong Thuy town said that Ms. Nguyet's purchase of a lottery ticket from Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. was a civil transaction according to the form and had been completed.

Based on the grounds, legal regulations and the testimony in court of the litigant and the defendant, the representative of the Procuracy determined that the ticket number 386552 is a real ticket, not suspected of fraud, the series of numbers are still clear; there is a QR code for authentication.

The regulations on the conditions for paying the prize written on the back of the lottery ticket are not fully reflected, while the company has determined that the reason the lottery ticket was changed from its original shape was due to objective reasons, such as rain.

Ms. Nguyet clipped the lottery tickets and put them in her pocket, which is a common way of preserving them that many people do. Ms. Nguyet went to work on the farm and did not anticipate that it would rain, so the fact that the lottery tickets in her pocket got wet was not her fault or intentional.

Therefore, the representative of the Procuracy requested the court to accept the plaintiff's lawsuit request, forcing Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. to pay 2 billion VND in lottery ticket special prize money to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet.

Previously, Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. refused to pay the special prize of 2 billion VND to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, which was drawn on October 14, 2024. The case has been accepted by the court and the company will comply with the final judgment.

Ms. Nguyet bought 2 lottery tickets from Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd., in which ticket 386552 (F) won the special prize of 2 billion VND. However, due to carelessness, the ticket got wet in the rain and changed shape.

Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. only accepts to pay the special consolation prize worth 50 million VND, while the special prize winning lottery ticket is refused to be paid.

On December 10, 2024, Ms. Nguyet filed a lawsuit against Hue Lottery One Member Co., Ltd. at the People's Court of Huong Thuy town, requesting payment of the prize money for the lottery ticket that won the special prize.

On January 2, the People's Court of Huong Thuy town issued an official notice accepting the civil case of lottery prize payment dispute between the parties.