Woman in Texas files lawsuit against the State Lottery Commission over unpaid $83 million winnings
Texas Woman Accuses Lottery Commission of Withholding $83.5 Million Jackpot
A lawsuit filed on May 19th alleges that the Texas Lottery Commission is withholding an $83.5 million jackpot from a woman in Montgomery County, Texas. The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, purchased a lottery ticket through the courier service Jackpocket for the "Lotto Texas" game on February 17th. The ticket was acquired from a licensed lotto retailer in Austin, Winners Corner, according to the lawsuit.
Three months later, the ticket's numbers were drawn for the jackpot, yet the Texas Lottery Commission has not paid out the winnings. This delay comes amid the commission's decision, announced in early April, to ban unregulated lottery ticket courier services effective immediately. The commission's former Executive Director, Ryan Mindell, expressed concerns about the integrity, security, honesty, and fairness of lottery games being undermined by the operations of these courier services.
Governor Greg Abbott also announced that the state would investigate the yet-to-be-paid jackpot. It is worth noting that only three states - New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas - regulate courier services, according to a report from the Texas House.
In her lawsuit, Doe claims she presented her ticket to the Lottery Commission on March 18th and was not advised that it was invalid in any way. However, the commission has stated that the claim is being reviewed and is the subject of external investigation. The commission declined to comment further on pending litigation and investigations.
The proliferation of courier services in Texas has led to concerns about the regulation and fairness of lottery operations. The ban on these services, announced by the commission in April, has been met with legal challenges from affected companies and disputes over unpaid jackpots such as Doe's case. The future of the Texas Lottery Commission remains uncertain, with ongoing efforts to overhaul the commission amid deepening scandals.
Sources:[1] https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/05/19/texas-woman-sues-lottery-over-withheld-jackpot/[2] https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/texas-lottery-commission-bans-jackpocket-loto-courier-services/[3] https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-woman-files-suit-over-83-5-million-jackpot-17447433.php[4] https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/experts-say-texas-lottery-commission-needs-more-oversight-limits-on-third-party-apps/article_9308c74e-7f99-583d-8f1a-ddc8e53a26f5.html[5] https://www.kxan.com/news/local/texas-lottery-commission-bans-jackpocket-loto-courier-services/
Amidst the ongoing controversies surrounding the Texas Lottery Commission and the ban on unregulated lottery ticket courier services, Casino-and-gambling trends have emerged as lotteries and gambling-related discussions heat up. This lawsuit filed by Jane Doe to claim her $83.5 million Jackpot from the Texas Lottery Commission, despite its ongoing review and investigation, is a significant case highlighting the current gambling-trends and growing concerns about the fairness and regulation of lottery operations.
