Summary
- The Texas Lottery Commission is set to be dissolved as the Senate plans to transfer its responsibilities to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
- The legal ordeal began after an unexpected $83.5 million win in February, which sparked public outcry.
- Purchasing the ticket through a courier service caused an uproar among the lawmakers.
The Texas Lottery Commission is in a challenging situation. Its director, Ryan Mindell, resigned in April after facing criticism from politicians regarding a lottery jackpot won via a courier service.
New bill seeks to tighten control over Texas Lottery and ticket sales
Political dissatisfaction reached a peak with Texas Republicans, who are generally known for their strong opinions, moving swiftly to pass Senate Bill 3070. This bill, which received unanimous support (31-0), aims to dissolve the Texas Lottery Commission and transfer its responsibilities to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Senator Bob Hall spearheaded the initiative, asserting that the change was necessary due to a lack of transparency and oversight in the state's lottery operations. According to the draft law, which is expected to be signed by the governor, shifting oversight to the TDLR would subject the lottery and its operators to more rigorous scrutiny. The bill specifically authorizes high-ranking state officials, including the governor and the Attorney General, to personally inspect lottery operations. It also seeks to enhance consumer protections by restricting lottery ticket sales to in-person purchases only, eliminating the use of courier services. Additionally, the bill introduces criminal penalties for those who sell tickets through unauthorized methods such as phone or mobile platforms. It also flags sales of more than 100 tickets in a single transaction or failing to verify the purchaser's age as violations.
Regular folk and syndicates are equally on the line
International groups of organized lottery players have targeted the Texas Lottery, exploiting the system by purchasing the vast majority of tickets and entering nearly all possible combinations. In April 2023, one such syndicate spent $26 million to secure almost every ticket, subsequently winning the $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot. Even regular winners are under scrutiny. Concerns were raised when a woman won $83.5 million using a lottery courier service, prompting outrage among lawmakers. Her payout has been frozen and remains held by the lottery as an investigation continues. Due in part to political pressure, courier services were banned on April 29, 2025.
