Texas Lottery wins under investigation by Texas Rangers
Lawmakers investigating Texas Lottery
Both law enforcement and Texas lawmakers are investigating a possible rigging of the Texas Lottery. It is being scrutinized due to suspicious circumstances surrounding recent multi-million dollar jackpot winning tickets being purchased through courier systems
AUSTIN - Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate two recent wins that have caught the attention of state officials.
The announcement of the investigation comes on the same day that the Texas Lottery announced it will look to ban the use of lottery couriers amid pressure from officials.
Feb. 17, 2025 - $83.5M ticket sold in Austin
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin winning lottery ticket raises questions
A lot of zero's have been tacked onto one person's net worth after winning a $83.5 million Texas Lottery ticket. But it has created a lot of questions about the legitimacy of the lottery system.
The backstory:
A winning Lotto Texas ticket in the Feb. 17, 2025 drawing was sold in north Austin.
The ticket was sold at a store called Winners Corner TX LCC.
The winning ticket was purchased through an app called JackPocket, which also owns Winners Corner.
JackPocket, which is owned by DraftKings, says that the winner was a Texas resident who purchased 10 tickets.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went to the Winners Corner store to investigate shortly after the win was announced.
Dan Patrick investigates lottery retailer in Austin
VIDEO: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is conducting his own investigation into the Texas Lottery. This comes after a winning $83.5 million lottery ticket was bought at a retail store in North Austin. (Video courtesy: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's X account)
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick acknowledges that courier services are not illegal in Texas, but he says that is not what the law intended when the state's lottery began in 1991.
DraftKings argues they aren't breaking any laws and that this win was not as a result of a bulk ordering system, where millions of dollars are spent to buy nearly all possible number combinations.
April 22, 2023 - $95M ticket sold in Colleyville
The backstory:
Bulk purchasing was responsible for a $95 million win in Colleyville on April 22, 2023.
The ticket was sold at Lottery Now in Colleyville, which sold nearly every possible combination of numbers to a group of investors.
Gov. Abbott on Lottery Investigation
What they're saying:
"Texans must be able to trust in our state's lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully," said Governor Abbott. "Today, I directed the Texas Rangers to fully investigate these incidents and identify any potential wrongdoing. Texans deserve a lottery that is fair and transparent for everyone."
Texas Lottery Changes
Texas Lottery Commission under investigation
The Texas Lottery Commission is under investigation. Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to look into whether the agency and the lottery game have been compromised.
Big picture view:
The investigation comes as the Texas Lottery announced several changes amid criticism from lawmakers.
Texas Lottery moves to ban courier services after controversial win
The days of buying Texas Lottery tickets on a third-party app or website could be coming to an end after a controversial win in the state drew the attention of Texas officials.
The Texas Lottery says it is now moving to ban courier services, like JackPocket, from operating in the state.
READ MORE: Texas Lottery commissioner resigns shortly after controversial wins draw state officials' scrutiny
Several bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature to restrict the Texas Lottery.
What are lottery couriers?
Couriers buy tickets on behalf of lottery players, often through phone apps.
In the case of Monday's winning ticket, it was purchased through the app, Jackpocket.
When you buy a lottery ticket virtually the couriers purchase your Texas ticket.
By the numbers:
The Texas Lottery says in 2023, $173 million in winnings were through couriers.
That's 9 percent of all lottery winnings that year.
The Source: Information about the investigations come from a Feb. 24, 2025 news release from Governor Greg Abbott. Information on the Feb. 17, 2025 win comes from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, DraftKings and the Texas Lottery. Information on the April 22, 2023 win comes from Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Lottery. Changes to the Texas Lottery come from a Feb. 24, 2025 new release from the Texas Lottery.