Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into two suspicious lottery winnings involving courier services to determine if any laws were broken. The winnings, one in 2023 and another this month, raised concerns about the integrity of the state’s lottery system. The investigation will examine the process by which the winners obtained a large number of tickets and if state or federal laws were violated.
Following this announcement, the Texas Lottery Commission implemented immediate actions to ensure the lottery operates as intended. These actions include expanding the investigation into courier services and reducing the number of terminals allowed at retail locations.
The Texas Lottery recently banned online gaming services, prompting popular courier apps like Jackpocket and TheLotter to suspend operations in Texas. These companies claimed to operate in full compliance with local regulations and expressed disappointment in the decision to ban their services.
Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell emphasized the commission’s commitment to investigating courier services and enforcing retail compliance to uphold the public’s trust in the lottery. The ongoing investigation aims to ensure the lottery operates in a fair and secure manner.
Lottery couriers are unregulated companies that take lottery ticket orders online, purchase tickets from licensed retailers, and transmit scanned images to customers. Couriers charge a fee for their service, and the tickets are held by the courier until determined to be winning or non-winning. The close relationship between couriers and retailers has raised concerns about potential exploitation of the lottery system.
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