Although there is nothing to suggest that the anonymous winner exploited the vulnerabilities of the system, the payout of her prize has been blocked for the moment
In February, a lucky woman won an $83.5 million jackpot from Lotto Texas. The life-changing sum was won from a ticket purchased via the DraftKings-owned lottery courier app Jackpocket.
Unfortunately, an investigation into the win and lottery couriers has stalled the payout.
Couriers Face Trouble in Texas
The winning ticket was purchased using Jackpocket, through a retail store in Austin. The life-changing sum made headlines but also exacerbated the controversies surrounding lottery couriers.
For context, lottery couriers are companies that purchase lottery tickets on behalf of their customers, taking a cut off their deposits. This effectively allows players to play the lottery online, providing them with unparalleled convenience.
In Texas, however, some have pointed out that lottery couriers are very similar to unregulated online gaming. Even worse, lottery couriers have previously enabled controversial bulk ticket purchases, undermining the integrity of the lottery.
For example, a European consortium previously leveraged lottery couriers to buy out all tickets for a lottery draw in 2023 and secure itself a $95 million jackpot. This showed a vulnerability that makes the lottery unfair to everyday customers, prompting legal and regulatory pushback.
The Winner Says She Is Being Unfairly Targeted
Although there is nothing to suggest that the anonymous winner exploited such vulnerabilities, the payout of her prize has been blocked for the moment.
When she visited the Texas Lottery Commission HQ in Austin on Tuesday, she was told that the prize could not be paid out until the Texas Rangers completed an ongoing investigation into her win.
The woman argued that she had spent only $20 on her tickets and felt that it was unfair to withhold her winnings because of concerns she is in no way related to. Her lawyer, Randy Howry, agreed that she should not be penalized for using a service that was available to her.
Howry scrutinized the payout refusal, saying that it could undermine trust in the lottery. He also warned that his client would consider legal action if her money was not paid within the usual three-day timeframe.
Texas Puts an End to Lottery Couriers
In the meantime, Texas continues to move forward with its prohibition on lottery couriers, to the industry’s dismay. Although couriers had backed a measure that would have banned bulk ticket purchases instead of a total ban, authorities have so far been relentless in ensuring that such services are no longer available in the state.
The TLC has warned that retailers who violate its new rules risk getting their licenses suspended.
