Latest news with #TexasLotteryCommission
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Texas Lottery Commission to be disbanded as state game gets new restrictions
On Sunday night, Gov. Greg Abbott ensured the Texas Lottery will continue for another four years, signing into law new provisions to clamp down on the state's games after lawmakers weighed abolishing the lottery entirely. As lawmakers sparred over high-profile issues like public school funding, property tax cuts and THC regulation, the Texas Lottery emerged as a smaller, unexpected flashpoint during the recently-completed regular session. Criticism of the lottery and the Texas Lottery Commission largely stemmed from two controversies: a $95 million Lotto Texas win claimed by a single group that purchased 99% of the 25.8 million possible ticket combinations and the proliferation of online ticket sales through apps known as lottery couriers. Couriers act as ticket resellers, printing physical tickets for customers across the state in small stores they own before sending digital scans of the tickets for customers to view through apps. Some lawmakers said the services violated state law, which banned sales 'by telephone,' while providers said they acted legally and with the approval of the lottery commission. The couriers' unclear legal standing was further exacerbated by the commission, which allowed the services for years before suddenly moving to ban them mid-session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, made banning couriers one of their top priorities. The result was Senate Bill 3070, introduced almost two months after the filing deadline but granted an exception by the Senate so it could move forward. The bill, which took effect immediately, allows the lottery to continue until 2029, but with greater restrictions and without the Texas Lottery Commission, the agency that has run the game for three decades. The bill prohibits online ticket sales and abolishes the commission; starting Sept. 1 the lottery will be run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A TDLR spokesperson said it was 'premature' to discuss the specific structure of their lottery oversight, but that they have organized a three-person transition team and are assembling working groups with both TDLR and lottery commission staff. For a moment, the controversy that rocked the state's 33-year-old lottery through the session seemed to provide a window for long-time detractors an opportunity to abolish the games completely. But concerns over how the state would replace the $2 billion that the lottery provides yearly to the public education fund ultimately halted those efforts. 'It didn't take a lot of in depth discussion, It was really around, 'We're so far into the budget for this next session, we're not going to be able to end (the lottery),'' Hall said. 'We need the income to balance the budget for this next (biennium,) and so let's work out how we make that happen.' Hall, SB 3070's author, had been at the forefront of the lottery's opposition, but called his bill 'the next best thing' to abolition. The new law allows players to purchase up to 100 tickets in person at lottery retailers during store hours. Selling tickets online or through apps or websites will be a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Lawmakers say that will prevent a replay of the $95 million win secured by the purchase of 99% of the possible ticket combinations. Legislators will have another opportunity to decide the lottery's fate in 2029, as SB 3070 requires lawmakers to extend the game after a review by the Sunset Advisory Commission. Even with all the new guardrails in place, lottery critics like Hall say it may not be enough to satisfy his and others' long term concerns. 'I would much rather have seen an end to the lottery for a number of reasons,' Hall said. 'I do not feel that there's anything in any book on good government that has the state being involved in the gambling business.' While questions still remain about how TDLR will continue the lottery — and who will help them — much of the lottery commission's top administration has already stepped out of the picture. The agency's executive director, Ryan Mindell, resigned in mid-April, a departure that was bookended by resignations from two of the five commissioners in February and May. The end of the lottery commission does not mark the ends of its controversies, however. The Texas Rangers, a division of the Department of Public Safety, are currently investigating two jackpot wins — including the $95 million win — as well as courier operations in Texas. The commission is being sued by the winner of an $83.5 million jackpot who has not been paid yet. Kristen Moriarty, the Houston-area woman who won the jackpot in February, bought the ticket through Jackpocket, the country's largest lottery courier. Her win is also part of the Rangers' investigation, and the Lottery Commission has cited the investigation as the reason she hasn't been paid — but Moriarty said she has yet to be contacted by anyone with DPS. 'It was excitement and happiness at first, and then it just has progressed to stress and anger,' Moriarty said. DPS did not respond to questions on Moriarty's case, stating they cannot comment about ongoing investigations. ___ This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Lottery winner lands huge £65m jackpot prize - but she doesn't receive a penny
The woman, from Texas, filed the legal action after she bought a lottery ticket using a third-party carrier app. The eye-watering prize has been left unpaid for months A furious lottery winner has launched a lawsuit against a jackpot commission after she claims her £65m prize had been left unpaid for three months. The woman, from Texas, filed the legal action in Montgomery County on May 19 after she bought a lottery ticket on February 17 for the "Lotto Texas" game using a third-party carrier app, Jackpocket. According to the lawsuit, the woman purchased her winning £65 million ticket via the app, which was legal at the time. However, just a week after her win, the lottery commission banned the courier service over its legality. The lottery winner, only identified in the case as "Jane Doe", had verified her win on March 18, but the Texas Lottery Commission has withheld payments. The lawsuit alleges they are retrospectively applying new rules to invalidate her win, which she claims is illegal. The unhappy woman previously said: "I've gone through frustration and being sad and stressed, and now I'm just angry. I literally spent $20. I didn't spend $26 million to run every single possible combination of numbers." "Every Texan knows what that should mean when it comes to the lottery – if you win, you should get paid," the suit says. "It shouldn't take a lawsuit to get paid when you win the lottery. But that's exactly what has happened here.' It comes as the Lottery Commission's recent ban on third-party services has led to several investigations and resignations. In April, the commission voted to prohibit couriers from selling tickets online following several high-profile incidents, including a £70.33 million jackpot win in 2023 involving bulk ticket purchases through a courier and this latest £65million win. The concern over using apps such as Jackpocket to purchase lottery tickets online through licensed retailers has sparked investigations about potential misuse. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced authorities would be investigating the woman's winning ticket. "Texans must be able to trust in our state's lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully," the governor said in a statement in February. Texas Lottery executive director Ryan Mindell resigned in April following serious concerns of courier services. "The proliferation of couriers in the state has raised serious concerns that the integrity, security, honesty, and fairness of lottery games is being undermined by the continued activity of courier services," he said in a statement. A spokesperson for the commission said the lawsuit is 'being reviewed under the Commission's claim validation requirements and is the subject of external investigation. "The agency does not have additional information to provide, as it does not comment on pending litigation and investigations," the spokesperson added.
The Hill
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Judge orders Texas Lottery Commission to protect $83.5 million of disputed funds won in February jackpot
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) and its acting executive director from spending any of the $83.5 million a Houston woman won in a February Lotto Texas jackpot. None of the jackpot has been paid out because the Texas Rangers are currently investigating the win — along with an April 2023 jackpot win — to see if there was any foul play involved. The judge wrote in the ruling that the Texas woman 'will be irreparably harmed if Defendant Sergio Rey, in his official capacity as acting executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission causes the $83,500,000 jackpot prize to be diminished, wasted, or paid to another before the merits of Plaintiff's claims are fully and finally adjudicated.' The ruling comes the same day a bill to end the TLC was sent to the Governor's desk for final approval. Senate Bill 3070 would eliminate the commission and transfer the operation of the lottery and charitable bingo to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Randy Howry, the lottery winner's attorney, said he believes the restraining order will also apply to the TDLR if the Governor signs the bill into law. The restraining order has a limited lifespan. In this case it will only last three days because there is an evidentiary hearing on June 5 for a temporary injunction. A temporary injunction would protect those funds until a trial can happen. Howry and his client are worried the February lottery winnings could be spent on other winners or pay for other costs within the commission as it faces extinction. 'We're doing everything we can to protect these funds,' Howry explained. The Texas woman won the Feb. 17 lottery drawing worth $83.5 million. The woman purchased $20 worth of tickets on the Jackpocket app, a service that allows players to buy tickets over the phone. Those services are known as lottery couriers and they have become the target of lawmakers this session who believe they are against the laws written in the state and believe the lottery commission acted beyond its means to allow couriers to operate in Texas. Some lottery courier services were involved in helping a single entity, known as Rook TX, purchase and print more than $25 million worth of tickets in a 72-hour time span in April of 2023. That number of tickets nearly guaranteed the entity would have the winning ticket for a $95 million jackpot. This session lawmakers have questioned the TLC and its commissioners about how something like that could happen. Lawsuits have been filed against those courier services and the former executive director of the commission. In February, a week after the Texas woman won the jackpot, the TLC said it was banning lottery courier services and the Governor directed the Texas Rangers to investigate those two wins. Howry said he and his client were told by the commission they could not be paid out while the Rangers investigated. However, Howry says he and his client have not been questioned by any agency regarding the February drawing.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge orders Texas Lottery Commission to protect $83.5 million of disputed funds won in February jackpot
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) and its acting executive director from spending any of the $83.5 million a Houston woman won in a February Lotto Texas jackpot. None of the jackpot has been paid out because the Texas Rangers are currently investigating the win — along with an April 2023 jackpot win — to see if there was any foul play involved. The judge wrote in the ruling that the Texas woman 'will be irreparably harmed if Defendant Sergio Rey, in his official capacity as acting executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission causes the $83,500,000 jackpot prize to be diminished, wasted, or paid to another before the merits of Plaintiff's claims are fully and finally adjudicated.' The ruling comes the same day a bill to end the TLC was sent to the Governor's desk for final approval. Senate Bill 3070 would eliminate the commission and transfer the operation of the lottery and charitable bingo to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Temporary Restraining Order against TLCDownload Randy Howry, the lottery winner's attorney, said he believes the restraining order will also apply to the TDLR if the Governor signs the bill into law. The restraining order has a limited lifespan. In this case it will only last three days because there is an evidentiary hearing on June 5 for a temporary injunction. A temporary injunction would protect those funds until a trial can happen. Howry and his client are worried the February lottery winnings could be spent on other winners or pay for other costs within the commission as it faces extinction. 'We're doing everything we can to protect these funds,' Howry explained. The Texas woman won the Feb. 17 lottery drawing worth $83.5 million. The woman purchased $20 worth of tickets on the Jackpocket app, a service that allows players to buy tickets over the phone. Those services are known as lottery couriers and they have become the target of lawmakers this session who believe they are against the laws written in the state and believe the lottery commission acted beyond its means to allow couriers to operate in Texas. Some lottery courier services were involved in helping a single entity, known as Rook TX, purchase and print more than $25 million worth of tickets in a 72-hour time span in April of 2023. That number of tickets nearly guaranteed the entity would have the winning ticket for a $95 million jackpot. This session lawmakers have questioned the TLC and its commissioners about how something like that could happen. Lawsuits have been filed against those courier services and the former executive director of the commission. In February, a week after the Texas woman won the jackpot, the TLC said it was banning lottery courier services and the Governor directed the Texas Rangers to investigate those two wins. Howry said he and his client were told by the commission they could not be paid out while the Rangers investigated. However, Howry says he and his client have not been questioned by any agency regarding the February drawing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Legislature latest: Countdown until end of session is on
The Brief Monday marked one week to go until the end of regular session Voting would go until midnight, another late push on Tuesday Several issues are still at play here AUSTIN, Texas - With only a week to go until the end of the regular session, the countdown is on for the Texas Legislature. House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued a warning before Monday's final hard press started. Voting would go until midnight with another late push on Tuesday. Big picture view Political analysts Mark Jones and Brain Smith gave their impressions of the political end game that's being played. "It is all coffee and cigarette this week, because everything has to be through the legislature process, through all the channels and done by next Monday," said Smith. Jones anticipates the 48-hour period to be frantic. "And at the end of the day, Democrats now can see light at the tunnel," said Jones. The light for Democrats, is not a green light. Monday, House Democrats hit the brakes at times. During the day they engaged in debate by asking multiple questions and many of the questions seemed to be raised only as a way to burn time. This tactic, called chubbing, was even used on a bipartisan bill that encourages movie making in Texas. "So every minute that Democrats waste chubbing on bills like the motion picture bill, which is going to pass, which they actually, virtually all, support is less time for bills that are on the calendar on Tuesday, or potentially even some bills that run the Monday calendar, but very low down on the list," said Jones. The stalling effort was used a few weeks ago with earlier deadlines. Dig deeper Several issues are still at play here and some recently saw votes. House Republicans have pushed through several abortion bills. They include clarifying when doctors can perform the procedure to save the life of the mother, and a bill banning the use of tax dollars to pay for out-of-state trips for abortions. SB 2880, which bans the sale of abortion-inducing medication, moved out of a House committee on Saturday but has not yet been posted for a floor debate in the full House. There was a vote that brought about a political death and resurrection. The Texas Lottery Commission was abolished with the games moved to a new agency. State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) in questioning state Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) noted the switch over would start September 1st. State Rep. Chris Turner (D-Plano) reminded House members the action will save a game that helps veterans. "While it's a relatively small aspect of the lottery overall, the impact that the veterans scratch-off ticket has is immense for the men and women who have served our state," said Turner. Legislative survivors included two hard-line bail reform measures. Debate on a bill to deny bail for undocumented immigrants was moved to Tuesday. A no-bail resolution for repeat offenders with violent crimes failed to gain the necessary 100 votes. It could get a second chance on Tuesday. Another critical 2nd Reading vote was on SB13. It would create school library advisory councils to make recommendations on books. The committees would consist of parents, educators, and local community members. What's next The latter part of the week will be focused on finalizing deals involving several big bills that are in conference committee. That process could carry over into next Monday. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski.
