In this Oct. 13, 2016, file photo, Ellen DeGeneres appears during a commercial break at a taping of "The Ellen Show" in Burbank. A state legislator wants an audit of the California Lottery to look into a whistleblower complaint about more than $212,000 worth of scratchers tickets that were given to the DeGeneres' TV show for audience gifts. The Los Angeles Times reports, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, the lottery viewed the contribution as a publicity boon but the complaint filed by some lottery employees contends the giveaway was a "misuse of funds." (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A state legislator wants an audit of the California Lottery to look into a whistleblower complaint about more than $212,000 worth of Scratchers tickets that were given to Ellen DeGeneres’ TV show for audience gifts.The lottery viewed the move as a publicity boon but the complaint filed by some lottery employees contends the giveaway was a “misuse of funds,” the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.The giveaway occurred on the Dec. 3 episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The lottery confirmed the show was given at no cost 425 packets that each included 72 Scratchers tickets with a face value of $500 per packet, the Times said.The controversy has arisen just weeks before the release of a lottery audit requested last year by California Senator Ling Lin
