An Indiana lottery player who believed he had won $100,000 was left with just $20 after a technical issue with a scratch-off game. Mike Fields, a forklift driver from Indianapolis, purchased four 'Space Invaders Cash Invasion' tickets and thought one had made him a life-changing winner.
Fields drove to the Hoosier Lottery headquarters to claim his prize, but was told he would not be paid that day. “They never told us ‘no’ they just said we wouldn’t be paid today, and no other information really except that we would be informed by mail within 30 days,” he told WXIN. It later emerged that a 'technical issue' meant he was only eligible for $20.
The Hoosier Lottery posted a warning on its website, stating: “The $5 SPACE INVADERS™ Cash Invasion Scratch-off launched with a technical issue. We halted the sales of the ticket to ensure the game experience upholds the integrity we strive to provide.” Players were asked to complete a protest form and mail their ticket by November 30, 2026.
Another player, Glendon Jones, faced a similar disappointment. He thought he had won $2,500, but was told at headquarters that he was “out of luck” due to the misprint. “They said to come down here to headquarters and they would pay the ticket. I get here and they say it’s a mess up, misprint and that I’m pretty much out of luck on it,” Jones said.
