Celebrity Justice
Wiseguy Wants Lotto Whacked Over Scratch Snafu

Posted Jun 17th 2008 1:05PM by TMZ Staff

The New York lottery might want to think about witness protection.

Vinny Vella - the guy who played Jimmy Petrille on "The Sopranos" -- wants to rub out the New York lotto for -- he claims -- shorting him out of a $5 million scratch-ticket payday. He says he had the right numbers on an "Extravaganza" lottery ticket -- two sevens -- but it turns out that the number was a 17.

Launch photoThe New York lottery tells us the vendor that prints the tickets had a "minor ink and printing problem" that affected about 5,000 tickets. They also say Vella's SOL -- they've got barcodes and other security precautions on the ticket that prove he's a loser.


Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Breaking News


Tags: New York Lottery, NewYorkLottery, NY Lotto, NyLotto, The Sopranos, TheSopranos, Vinny Vella, VinnyVella, Wise Guy, WiseGuy

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1. Pay the Man His money!

Posted at 10:59AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Lala

2. MIGHT BE TIME FOR THICKER LENSES!!!

Posted at 11:00AM on Jun 17th 2008 by JUD

3. Was it supposed to be a 7 or a 17 on the actual ticket?

Posted at 11:04AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Tim

4. I haven't bought one in a long time, maybe I will try.

Posted at 11:10AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Kelli

5. I think the only thing I hate more than NY'ers is Kayne West. Oh' and Rosie.

Posted at 11:16AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Stupid Little Monkey

6. it was suposd to be a 17

they should give imthe money

Posted at 11:23AM on Jun 17th 2008 by we

7. So, the guy was an actor on successful tv show, and he's buying lottery tickets?!?!?

Posted at 11:24AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Drew_Ill

8. He really needs some money to get that "honker" fixed!

Posted at 11:27AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Dallas

9. Winning money like this is a life-changer. My sister won $10 million on a scratch-off game three years ago, and it changed all of our lives so wonderfully. I can't imagine how she would have felt if they'd done this to her. Pay the man!

Posted at 11:34AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Shea

10. He needed the Lucky "77", but his ticket was "17." Anyway, regardless of the smudge on his ticket, the tickets have a barcode verification located on back. No beep, no bucks. Moolah, Shmoolah!!!

Posted at 11:43AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Wayne Johnny

11. #10, you're right. You don't even have to scratch off the front to know if you won. Just have them scan it. But what's the fun in that.

Posted at 11:53AM on Jun 17th 2008 by Di

12. Accoridng to lottery people it was supposed to be 17 but how do we know that. It had a number 7 and then underneath it it spelled SEVTN. well, that too could have been the misprint instead of the 7 not being a 17 the T in SEVTN could have been an E. They are lying to get out of it. It would work in the ticket holders favor to use the printing error for his defense too then. I think he will win if he uses the printing error that the T in SEVTN should have been an E!!

Posted at 11:58AM on Jun 17th 2008 by reallyirked

13.
this guy looks like he's auditioning
for a scratch-n-sniff ad for salami.....

Posted at 12:01PM on Jun 17th 2008 by charleswhitman

14. While a clearer shot is definitely needed, it did look like 7 instead of 17. Then again, I'm blind :(

Posted at 12:18PM on Jun 17th 2008 by FlamingoNut

15. Well if the top number is a 7 and seven is written underneath it then its a 7..if the bottom number says 7 and seven is written underneath it...well...there is no disputing it...that is the sole purpose of the "writing" of the number, so this crap doesn't happen! If that is what it says then pay the man! I would be ticked if I was him!

Posted at 12:31PM on Jun 17th 2008 by elle

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