Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott have both announced investigations into potential irregularities in the Texas Lottery system following two high-profile jackpot wins that have raised concerns about fairness and legality.
Paxton announced an investigation into suspicious lottery winnings, citing concerns about bulk ticket purchases and the involvement of third-party courier services. In a statement, Paxton emphasized the need to maintain the integrity of the lottery system and prevent potential fraud.
“I’m deeply concerned about the integrity of our state’s lottery system, especially when it appears that non-citizens have shown that they are attempting to rig the system to win on demand,” Paxton said. “Texas citizens deserve far better than bad actors getting rich off of a lottery system that is open to exploitation, and we will hold anyone who engages in illegal activity accountable.”
The investigation will focus on how individuals acquired large quantities of tickets in a short period and whether any state or federal laws were violated.
Governor Abbott also weighed in, directing the Texas Rangers to investigate the circumstances surrounding two major jackpot wins. According to The Dallas Morning News, one of these, a $95 million payout in April 2023, was awarded to an entity that had purchased over 25 million $1 tickets, effectively covering nearly all possible number combinations. Another jackpot, worth $83.5 million, was won earlier this month through a ticket purchased from an Austin store linked to a lottery courier service.
“Texans must be able to trust in our state’s lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully,” Abbott said in a statement. “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.”
In response to growing concerns, the Texas Lottery Commission immediately banned the use of third-party courier services to purchase lottery tickets. This decision aligns with legislative efforts to ensure the integrity and fairness of lottery operations. Under the new policy, any retailer found working with a courier service will have their sales agent license revoked.
During recent legislative hearings, state senators strongly criticized the Lottery Commission for failing to act sooner. Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) has introduced a bill to criminalize online and telephone sales of lottery tickets, while Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Prosper) is pushing legislation to ban online lottery purchases altogether, as first reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Lt. Gov. Patrick has stated that the Lottery Commission’s sudden policy shift is an admission that it always had the authority to regulate couriers but failed to act in a timely manner. “I’ve never read so much garbage from a state agency press release in my 18 years in office,” Patrick wrote.
