In a story that mixes crime, luck and moral dilemma, two homeless men recently won €500,000 from scratch cards. Problem: the tickets were bought with a stolen bank card. The victim of the theft offers to share the winnings. But who really deserves the money?
An unexpected theft
On 3 February 2025, 42-year-old Jean-David E. parked his car in Toulouse city centre. When he returned, he was stunned to discover that his rucksack, containing his identity papers and bank card, had been stolen. He quickly stopped payment on his card, only to discover that a contactless payment of €52.50 had already been made at a nearby tobacconist’s.
The next day, Jean-David went to the tobacconist’s to investigate. The manager recalled two men, apparently of no fixed abode, who had bought cigarettes and scratch cards using his stolen card. Their suspicious behaviour had attracted his attention, particularly when they tried to make a second purchase with another card, without success due to a lack of PIN code. But the most surprising thing was yet to come: one of the scratch tickets turned out to be a winner, offering a jackpot of €500,000. The two men, overjoyed, left the premises in a hurry, even forgetting their cigarettes.
Faced with this unusual situation, Jean-David decided to offer the thieves a deal. In an interview, he said:
‘Without me, they wouldn’t have won. But without them, I wouldn’t have bought this ticket. I want to offer them a share of the winnings.’
A legal and moral dilemma
This case raises complex legal issues. Who is the true owner of the winnings? La Française des Jeux, which has been informed of the situation, has for the time being frozen the payment until the winning ticket is presented. Legal experts are debating the legitimacy of the owner of the ticket, purchased with a stolen card. Jean-David, for his part, hopes that the thieves will contact his lawyer to reach an amicable settlement.
From a legal point of view, the situation is murky. The two men have committed theft, which is an offence punishable by law. However, winning at a game of chance is considered an independent event. The authorities must therefore determine whether the winnings can be seized or redistributed.
From a moral point of view, opinions are divided. Some believe that the victim is entitled to recover part of the winnings, since it was his money that enabled the purchase of the tickets. Others maintain that the two men, although guilty of a crime, had luck on their side and deserve to keep their prize.
A race against time
Potential winners have 30 days from the date of purchase to claim their prize. Time was running out, and Jean-David was getting impatient. He wants to use his share to pay off his mortgage and insists that, without an agreement, the ticket will be unusable.
For the time being, the case is in the hands of the courts. The authorities must determine whether the winnings can be seized and redistributed, or whether the two men can legally keep their prize. In the meantime, the victim’s offer to share the money remains on the table.
This story is a reminder that gambling can sometimes lead to improbable and even controversial situations. It also raises questions about justice, luck and morality in exceptional circumstances.