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The incident was reported from China’s Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and originally took place in March 2019
The company had purchased over 500 lottery tickets from a local station to create a festive atmosphere at the annual event. (Representational image via AP)
A Chinese man had won more than six million yuan in a lottery at his company’s party, only to be asked to return the prize so it could be shared among all participants.
The incident was reported from China’s Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and originally took place in March 2019.
However, the story has resurfaced on social media as the Spring Festival approaches, a time when many companies host similar parties. Some online users have speculated that the revival of the story is aimed at boosting the sales of lottery tickets.
The company had purchased over 500 lottery tickets from a local station to create a festive atmosphere at the annual event. Each employee was given one ticket, and the unnamed winner hit the jackpot, claiming the grand prize of six million yuan. The win quickly caused a stir, with many employees sharing the news on social media, South China Morning Post reported.
“Come join our company, six million lottery wins are just a regular perk! Message me for job openings,” joked one employee. Another remarked, “Our annual party handed out lottery tickets, and someone won the jackpot! This is probably the closest I will ever get to such a huge prize.”
However, things took a turn when the company demanded that the winner return the ticket. The company argued that the large prize should be divided among all the partygoers. The employee refused, and the dispute escalated, leading to a visit to the local police station for resolution.
Authorities from Yinzhou district confirmed that they had addressed the issue, noting that it was a civil dispute and advising the parties to pursue legal action if necessary.
Adding to the drama, it was revealed that the lottery draw took place on February 28, two days before the tickets were distributed to staff. Insiders disclosed that the company had instructed finance staff to ensure that no winning tickets were handed out.
However, due to an oversight, the winning ticket slipped through. It remains unclear whether the dispute was resolved in court.
