Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into two potentially unlawful lottery jackpot wins and the use of third-party courier services. Governor Greg Abbott had previously directed the Texas Rangers to probe these jackpots, including one worth $95 million that was won by an overseas group purchasing millions of $1 tickets and another worth $83.5 million linked to a courier service. Paxton expressed concern that non-citizens may be exploiting the system and announced that his agency will look into possible violations of state and federal laws.
In response to the investigation, the Texas Lottery banned online ticket sales by couriers, effective immediately, citing concerns raised by players and state leadership about the fairness and integrity of lottery operations. The decision to ban couriers has sparked debate among lawmakers, with some proposing bills to regulate rather than ban couriers. State Rep. John Bucy criticized the ban, arguing that the Texas Lottery Commission overstepped its authority without input from the Legislature and is seeking an opinion from Paxton on the matter.
The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers, comprised of the three largest lottery couriers in Texas, supports a regulatory solution proposed by Bucy that would allow their customers to continue ordering tickets using their services. The coalition called the decision to ban couriers “abrupt, disappointing, and unnecessary,” emphasizing that they have been operating legally and transparently in Texas since 2019. Lawmakers are expected to further discuss these issues, with proposed bills addressing the use of courier services for lottery ticket purchases.
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