The Indiana Lottery has pulled its 'Space Invaders Cash Invasion' scratch-off game from store shelves. The move comes after a ticket-printing error led some players to believe they had won far more than the game actually paid out.
A $100,000 Ticket Worth $20
Mike Fields is one of the players caught in the mix-up. His ticket appeared to show a $100,000 win. But when he tried to claim the prize, lottery officials told him the real payout was just $20. Other players have reported similar discrepancies between the amount displayed on their scratch-off and the official prize.
The error isn't widespread — it's tied to a specific batch of tickets. Still, the lottery decided to suspend sales of the entire game while the problem is sorted out. That means anyone who bought a 'Space Invaders Cash Invasion' ticket recently and hasn't checked it yet might want to do so carefully.
What the Lottery Says
Lottery officials haven't given details on how many tickets are affected or exactly what went wrong in the printing process. They've only said the error caused some tickets to display higher prize amounts than they actually contained. The suspension is meant to prevent more players from being misled while the agency reviews the situation.
For now, the game is off sale. The lottery hasn't announced a timeline for when it might return, or if it will be redesigned. Players who believe they have a winning ticket from the affected batch are being told to contact the lottery directly.
For Fields and others who've already claimed their tickets, the discrepancy is frustrating. A $100,000 jackpot that turns into $20 is a long way from a life-changing win. But the lottery's immediate priority is stopping the error from spreading to more customers.
The Indiana Lottery advises anyone who bought a 'Space Invaders Cash Invasion' ticket to check the official prize table on its website before assuming they've won big. If the ticket shows a prize that doesn't match the table, the lottery says to call their customer service line. Whether the lottery will offer any compensation to players like Fields remains an open question.
