Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for a full investigation into two massive state lottery jackpots, raising concerns about the integrity of online lottery ticket purchases.
Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to examine an $83.5 million jackpot won earlier this month and a $95 million Lotto Texas prize from April 2023. Both winning tickets were bought through third-party lottery courier services, which purchase tickets on behalf of players and send scanned copies to them.
The governor cited growing distrust among Texans over the role of these couriers, saying, “Texans must be able to trust in our state’s lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully.” He stressed that the state must take action to preserve public confidence.
Lottery courier services have been legal in Texas since 2019. They often own or work closely with licensed lottery retailers, raising questions about oversight and potential abuse. Critics argue these services can make it hard to verify who actually purchased the ticket and may even enable money laundering.
Concerns exploded after it was revealed that a single entity used a courier service to buy nearly every possible combination of Lotto Texas numbers in April 2023. The $95 million prize had rolled over 93 times, and the entity spent $25 million on tickets to secure the win. They walked away with $57.8 million after taxes.
State Senator Paul Bettencourt voiced his alarm during a February finance committee hearing, stating, “This is, 99% probability, money laundering. We can’t look the other way.”
In light of the growing criticism, the Texas Lottery Commission is now moving to ban courier services. Executive Director Ryan Mindell confirmed that the agency will revoke licenses of any retailers working with couriers, citing a review of the State Lottery Act and new findings from recent investigations.
“Lottery courier services operating in Texas have been a significant concern for many of our stakeholders,” Mindell said in a statement.
Previously, the commission was unsure of its authority to regulate these services, but that position has now changed.
Despite the controversy, everyday stories of lottery winners continue to fuel hope. One man won $1.3 million after playing the same numbers for four years. In another case, a gas station error led a woman to a $2 million windfall.
Still, officials maintain that transparency and fairness must come first. The investigations aim to ensure all future lottery operations in Texas follow the law and protect public trust.
