China Worker Wins $820,000 Lottery, Must Share with Colleagues

 A dispute has erupted in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, after an employee won a US$820,000 jackpot in a company-run lottery, only to be told by the firm to return the prize and share it with colleagues. The incident, which occurred during a year-end party in March 2019, has recently resurfaced, causing a stir on Chinese social media, especially as the Spring Festival approaches and many companies hold similar events.

In March 2019, an unnamed company hosted its annual party, purchasing over 500 lottery tickets from a local station. Each employee was given one ticket as part of the festivities. When one employee’s ticket won the first prize of six million yuan (about US$820,000), excitement quickly spread among the staff. The winner’s good fortune attracted considerable attention on social media, with some joking about the perks of working at the company.

However, the atmosphere took a sharp turn when the company demanded the employee return the winning ticket. The company argued that the jackpot should be shared among all the party attendees, as the ticket was part of a company-wide event. The employee, however, refused to comply, leading to a dispute that escalated to the local police station. Authorities confirmed that the matter was a civil dispute and advised both parties to resolve it through legal means.

The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the lottery draw had actually taken place two days before the tickets were handed out at the party, on February 28. In addition, reports suggested that the company had instructed its finance team to ensure no winning tickets were distributed. However, due to an oversight, the winning ticket slipped through.

Legal experts weighed in, with Tang Caizong, a lawyer from the Ningbo Justice Bureau, stating that the company's demand to reclaim the prize lacked legal grounds. Tang explained that once the tickets were distributed to employees, the rights to the tickets were effectively transferred, making the company’s request to take back the prize invalid under contract law.

The incident sparked outrage online, with many commenting that once a gift is given, it cannot be taken back. One person criticized the company for pretending to be generous with the lottery tickets, only to try to take advantage when someone won. The situation led to widespread condemnation, with some suggesting the company’s actions reflected poor ethical standards. It remains unclear whether the dispute was ultimately resolved in court.