Summary
- Kristen Moriarty, the lucky winner of the February draw, will finally receive her well-deserved prize.
- After months of intense debates questioning whether a courier service could truly be a valid method for victory, the award will finally be given.
- Moriarty confidently asserted that she acted with integrity, having spent $20 on the winning ticket.
In an exciting turn of events, the Texas Lottery has announced that a resident, who won an impressive $83.5 million draw on February 17, 2025, can finally claim their life-changing prize.
Texas Lottery agrees to honor February win
The Texas Lottery and Kristen Moriarty, who took legal action back in May, have finally reached a settlement. Moriarty is set to receive $45.8 million before taxes. Her victory not only made headlines but also ignited a heated debate. Moriarty's situation was straightforward: she bought her winning ticket using a lottery courier service, which stirred controversy. This was partly because, in the past, a European syndicate exploited these services to secure a $95 million jackpot, along with other substantial prizes. Back in 2023, nearly all available courier tickets were snapped up this way. Moriarty's recent win brought old concerns back to light, putting the Texas Lottery under scrutiny for permitting practices that might divert winnings to those outside the local community. Moriarty couldn't grasp why she was being held accountable or why her rightful earnings should be withheld when she'd done nothing wrong. Her attorney echoed this, arguing that the lottery's grievances about past incidents didn't apply to his client. Kristen played like any regular player, he asserted. She spent $20 on tickets, she won fair and square, and she deserves her payout.
Moriarty didn’t do anything wrong to be treated the way she was
I'm heartbroken, overwhelmed, and furious that this has turned into a political issue. Trust in our elected officials is shattered, and honestly, I’m at a loss for words, Moriarty expressed to The Texas Tribune in June. Moriarty’s victory sparked immediate changes in regulations, prompting lottery courier services to exit the state and leading to a new limit of 100 tickets per individual transaction. Although Moriarty will secure what is rightfully hers, the landscape of the lottery is forever altered. With couriers no longer in play, we’re left to wonder: will a new story of a syndicate victory arise in the future?
