World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Five ex-employees accused of rigging lottery tickets face €25m asset seizure
In 2019, five former lottery-concessionaire employees allegedly found winning tickets in advance by using privileged access to company computer systems.
The case concerns Italy’s Gratta e Vinci scratch-card game, and the concessionaire is not accused of involvement.
Prosecutors say the group identified four winning tickets: two worth €7 million each and two worth €5 million each.
Relatives and friends bought the tickets at shops across Italy where they had been sent.
Prosecutors say this bypassed the game’s random chance and took potential prize money from the state.
Authorities have seized assets worth more than €25 million, including 25 properties, five cars and motorcycles, and financial holdings, to help cover the alleged public loss.
A judge will decide whether the seizure stays in place, changes or is lifted before the accounting court case determines the individuals’ responsibility.
Authorities in Italy seized assets worth more than €25 million from five former employees of a lottery-ticket concessionaire accused of identifying winning tickets in advance.
The former employees allegedly used privileged access to company computer systems to locate four winning tickets.
Relatives and friends allegedly bought the tickets from retailers across Italy.
The prizes were two awards of €7 million each and two of €5 million each.
The seizure is intended to secure compensation for alleged damage to state revenue, and a judge will decide whether to uphold, change or revoke it.
- Who
- Five former employees of a lottery-ticket concessionaire are accused; relatives and friends allegedly bought the tickets.
- What
- Italian authorities seized assets worth more than €25 million over alleged advance identification and purchase of winning lottery tickets.
- When
- The alleged events date to 2019; the seizure was reported on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The tickets were sold through retailers across Italy; seized properties are in the provinces of Rome, Viterbo, Treviso, Taranto, Grosseto and Reggio Calabria.
- Why
- The seizure is intended to secure compensation for alleged damage to state revenue after the accused allegedly used privileged information to obtain prizes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The alleged scheme took place, according to Il Messaggero.
Financial police carried out the asset seizure under a delegation from the Lazio regional court of auditors' prosecutor.
A judge is to decide whether to confirm, modify or revoke the asset freeze.
- People accused
- Five former employees
- Asset seizure
- More than €25 million
- Winning tickets
- Four
- Prize amounts
- Two prizes of €7 million each and two of €5 million each
- Properties seized
- 25 in six provinces
- Vehicles seized
- Five cars and motorcycles
3 sources
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