A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against the state’s Lottery Commission, alleging that the commission has refused to pay her an $83.5 million lottery prize. The lawsuit, obtained by CNN, states that the woman’s ticket matched the winning numbers more than three months ago.
The lawsuit asserts, “Every Texan knows what that should mean when it comes to the lottery – if you win, you should get paid. It shouldn’t take a lawsuit to get paid when you win the lottery. But that’s exactly what has happened here.”
The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, purchased a ticket for the “Lotto Texas” drawing on February 17 through Jackpocket, a lottery courier service app. According to the lawsuit, her numbers matched the winning numbers drawn at 10:12 p.m. CT on the same day.
Notably, Ryan Mindell, the then-Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission, announced a ban on courier services like Jackpocket a week after Doe won her ticket. This ban, based on Texas law, took effect on May 19, according to a commission spokesperson. Mindell resigned from his position in April.
The lawsuit contends that the Lottery Commission is retroactively applying the ban to justify its refusal to pay Doe her winnings. “We all know the Commission is not allowed to change the rules after the drawing. But the Commission has apparently tried to do so and relied—at least in part—on this ex post facto announcement to continue to refuse to pay Plaintiff her lottery winnings simply because she utilized a lottery ticket courier service to buy the winning ticket,” the lawsuit alleges.
In an email statement to CNN on Saturday, a commission spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation.
Doe’s lawsuit also suggests that her unpaid winnings could potentially be used to pay other Texas Lottery winners or reallocated for other commission liabilities, potentially reducing the amount owed to her.
Attorneys representing the woman have also filed for a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction to prevent Sergio Rey, the Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission, from disbursing the jackpot prize, which Doe claims she has not yet received. Court documents state that if Rey is not restrained from disbursing the funds, Doe will suffer irreparable damages before a hearing can be held on her application for a temporary injunction.
CNN has reached out to the office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Jackpocket, and Sergio Rey for comment on the lawsuit.
Understanding Lottery Courier Services
Lottery courier services function as third-party vendors that purchase lottery tickets on behalf of customers. These services typically operate online or through mobile apps, offering a convenient way to participate in lottery games. They often coordinate the purchase of physical tickets through brick-and-mortar stores they may own and notify customers if they win. Some couriers also offer access to national lottery games such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
Lottery couriers have been operating in Texas since 2019. The industry gained increased attention in April 2023 when a single entity reportedly used a courier service to buy 25 million lottery tickets within a 72-hour period, as reported by CNN affiliate WFAA. This entity purchased nearly every possible number combination for a high-value jackpot, ultimately doubling its investment.
According to a 2024 report by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, lottery courier services are operating in 19 states. However, a 2024 Texas House report indicated that only three states—New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas—regulate the courier service industry. The Texas report found that without such regulations in Texas, couriers are not required to obtain a license or permission from the Texas Lottery to operate.
Victor Matheson, a professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, noted that purchasing lottery tickets through a courier service offers convenience and potentially allows out-of-state buyers to participate in lotteries across the country. However, he also pointed out potential drawbacks such as fees, legal complexities, and the lack of limits on ticket purchases. Other legal concerns associated with lottery courier services include the regulation of sales across state lines, sales to underage individuals, and the operation of ticket-buying syndicates.
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