Contests the Jackpot Prize Claim of $83.5 Million by Texas Lottery Authority
A Texan woman's incredible $83.5 million jackpot victory on February 17 has been marred by controversy. According to KXAN reports, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) might never let her claim her well-deserved prize. The reason? She bought her winning ticket through a lottery courier service, a business model under fire in Texas.
Lottery courier services have been around since 2019, allowing users to buy tickets online or through mobile apps. Our lucky winner spent $20 on tickets at Winners Corner TX in Austin - a retailer that uses Jackpocket, a DraftKings subsidiary. But these services have stirred debate. In 2023, a group bought 25 million tickets through four different couriers, pocketing a whopping $95 million prize. This massive win raised red flags about potential abuse of the system.
The Legal Storm
With lawmakers breathing down their necks, the TLC made a statement on February 24. They declared that courier services are illegal under Texas law. "The TLC believes couriers are not legal under Texas law and the TLC will exercise its discretion under the SLA to take all appropriate action to stop this activity from occurring," the commission stated.
The TLC even threatened to revoke licenses from retailers working with couriers. Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to probe the recent jackpot win and the controversial 2023 draw.
The woman and her attorney, Randy Howry, remain adamant. Howry said, "We played by all the rules, and we're still playing by all the rules, and we expect that my client should be paid." In response, DraftKings pulled Jackpocket from Texas. The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers spoke up, saying, "Lottery couriers have been legally and responsibly operating in Texas since 2019, while always maintaining a transparent and professional relationship with the Texas Lottery Commission," they stated.
The coalition also showed support for HB 3201, a bill aiming to regulate and legitimize courier services. Yet, SB 28 poses a challenge, banning all app-based or online ticket sales. As the legislative future seems uncertain, and a substantial jackpot is waiting to be claimed, the final outcome of this legal battle hangs in the balance.
[1]Focus on Texas: Texas brings new lawsuit against online lottery courier sellers - Houston Public Media[2]Houston Chronicle: Major lawsuit looms over class action alleging lottery rigged against players[3]US Gaming: Online lottery companies file lawsuit seeking to overturn Texas ban on courier sales[4]Montgomery County District Attorney's Office: Online lottery seller faces 3rd District Court of Montgomery County[5]Legal Reader: A Legal Challenge to the Texas Online Lottery Ban: Lotto.com Files Lawsuit Against Texas Lottery Commission
- Despite the controversy surrounding lottery courier services in Texas, the Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers maintains that these services have been operating responsibly and professionally since 2019.
- The ongoing debate about the legality of lottery courier services in Texas reached a new level when the Texas Lottery Commission declared these services illegal under Texas law, potentially revoking licenses from retailers working with them.
- In a bid to regulate and legitimize lottery courier services, a bill named HB 3201 has been introduced, but its success is challenged by another bill, SB 28, which seeks to ban all app-based or online ticket sales, creating uncertainty in the legislative future for these services.
