Texas Woman Fights Back After $83.5M Lottery Win Denied – Lawsuit Alleges State Trying to Pocket Winnings
“They Won’t Pay Me”: Texas Woman Drags Lottery Commission to Court Over $83.5 Million Jackpot Controversy
Austin, TX –It’s the kind of twist you don’t see coming — a Texan woman claims she hit the jackpot, quite literally, only to be left empty-handed three months later. And now, she’s suing.
It all started with a few numbers. February 17. Lotto Texas draw. The ticket — bought through a lottery courier app calledJackpocket— matched the winning combination perfectly. But instead of confetti and a check, the woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in legal filings, got radio silence. No payout. No celebration. Just legal red tape.
“Every Texan knows what that should mean when it comes to the lottery – if you win, you should get paid,” her lawsuit bluntly states. “It shouldn’t take a lawsuit to get paid when you win the lottery.”
Now, more than 90 days later, she’s turning to the courts — not for more money, but for what she believes is rightfully hers.
A Digital Ticket, A Major Jackpot… And A Legal Nightmare
Jane Doe didn’t walk into a gas station to grab her lucky numbers. Like many modern players, she usedJackpocket, a courier service that allows users to purchase official lottery tickets virtually — think of it like Uber Eats, but for lottery tickets. Convenient, yes. But apparently… controversial.
According to her suit, the numbers on her ticket — digitally purchased through the app — matched the exact draw from that February 17th evening at 10:12 p.m. Central. That’s $83.5 million before taxes, one of the largest jackpots in recent Lotto Texas memory.
So why wasn’t she paid?
The Backlash Against Courier Services
Here’s where things get sticky.
Just days after her win, then-Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell publicly called for a ban on the very courier services like Jackpocket that Jane used. By May 19 — three months later — that ban took effect.
Mindell later resigned in April. But not before dropping a regulatory bombshell.
“We all know the Commission is not allowed to change the rules after the drawing,” the lawsuit argues. “But the Commission has apparently tried to do so… using this ex post facto announcement to justify withholding the winnings.”
In plain terms, Doe’s lawyers say the state is changing the rulesafterthe game was played. And that, they say, violates basic fairness.
Where’s the Money Now?
What really added fuel to this legal fire is a quiet fear — that the funds meant for Doe might have already been rerouted.
The lawsuit speculates that the jackpot could now be sitting in a pool used to pay other winners, or worse, redirected to “other Commission liabilities or purposes.” If true, that could severely impact what Jane Doe is owed.
Her legal team has already filed for an emergency restraining order and asked the court to temporarily block any movement of the $83.5 million.
“Unless this money is frozen,” the court documents warn, “the Plaintiff will suffer damages that can’t be measured in dollars. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
No Comment from the State — So Far
Unsurprisingly, the Texas Lottery Commission is keeping its lips sealed.
When CNN asked for comment, a spokesperson responded that the agency “does not comment on pending litigation.” Similarly, CNN says it reached out to Acting Deputy Executive Director Sergio Rey, Jackpocket, and even Governor Greg Abbott’s office — but no responses have been made public yet.
So, WhatIsa Lottery Courier Service?
Good question — and the heart of this controversy.
Courier services like Jackpocket operate as intermediaries. You use their app to choose your numbers. They (or their partners) go out and buy the real physical ticket on your behalf. If you win, they notify you and help claim the prize.
They’ve been around in Texas since 2019 and are popular for big national games like Powerball and Mega Millions. According to a 2024 report by Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, these services now operate in19 states.
But here’s the rub — onlyNew York, New Jersey, and Arkansashave formal regulations for these services. Texas isn’t on that list.
Which means: No licenses. No oversight. And now, possibly, no payouts.
The Infamous 2023 Courier Scandal
Texas lawmakers started taking notice of courier services in a big way in April 2023 — when an unnamed investor reportedly bought25 million ticketsusing a courier service within just 72 hours.
Let that number sink in.
According to WFAA (a CNN affiliate), the investor purchased nearly every possible number combination for a jackpot so large, they doubled their money. They walked away with$57.8 million before taxes. Legal? Technically. Ethical? That’s up for debate.
The backlash prompted an official review, and eventually, the push to ban services like Jackpocket altogether.
Expert Insight: Convenience vs Chaos
Victor Matheson, an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross, explained earlier this year why couriers exploded in popularity.
“It allows buyers to conveniently buy tickets without having to go to a regular lottery retailer,” he said. “And potentially lets out-of-state buyers enter lotteries across the country.”
But he also raised concerns: legal uncertainty, unregulated purchases across state lines, and the potential for massive ticket-buying syndicates. “There’s a lot of gray area when it comes to how these services operate.”
Where Does That Leave Jane Doe?
At the heart of this whole legal battle is a simple question:If your numbers win, but you didn’t buy the ticket in person, do you still win?
For Jane Doe — and potentially thousands of digital lottery players — the outcome of this case could set a precedent.
Her attorneys argue that she followed every rulethat existed at the time of her purchase. The app was functioning. The service had been operating in Texas for years. The numbers matched. The draw was official.
So why hasn’t she been paid?
That’s the $83.5 million question.
NEWS SOURCE:Yahoo.com
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