$83 million on hold? What’s delaying a major lottery payout
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Imagine the thrill of winning a colossal $83.5 million lottery jackpot, only to find out that claiming your fortune has become a tangled web of controversy and red tape.
That's precisely the predicament facing one Texan, whose life-changing win has been put on indefinite hold due to a sudden rule change regarding online third-party lottery vendors.
The story begins with an anonymous woman from Austin, who, on February 17, used the digital courier service Jackpocket to purchase what would turn out to be the winning lottery ticket.
Jackpocket, a service that buys lottery tickets on behalf of customers for a fee, seemed like a convenient way to play. However, the celebration was short-lived.
In a twist of fate, Texas Lottery officials are now withholding the jackpot following a new ban on online third-party vendors—a ban that came into effect after the ticket was purchased.
The ban was part of a sweeping change aimed at eliminating the use of courier services to buy lottery tickets, which the Texas Lottery Commission argues lack regulatory oversight.
The plot thickened when Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick highlighted the issue in a video, pointing out that the winning ticket was sold at Winner’s Corner, a store owned by DraftKings, which also owns Jackpocket.
Patrick's concern was that this could be more than just a coincidence and might raise questions about the integrity of the state lottery.
Despite the concerns, Winner's Courier is a licensed service by the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC), making the sale legal.
Yet, the commission's Executive Director, Ryan Mindell, has expressed a strong stance against courier services, citing a need to maintain public trust and comply with legal regulations.
The winner's attorney, Randy Howry, has been vocal in defending his client, stating that she followed all the rules set by the TLC when purchasing her ticket through Jackpocket.
The winner herself has expressed a rollercoaster of emotions, from stress to anger, as she insists she has done nothing illegal or unethical.
The Texas Lottery Commission has remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for holding the prize, only stating that the claim is under review and subject to an external investigation.
Jackpocket has paused its operations in Texas in compliance with the ban, despite having operated in the state since 2019.
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The company has emphasized its adherence to TLC guidelines and transparency in its operations.
Moreover, Jackpocket has highlighted the potential negative impact on public education funding, as their service has contributed over $550 million in Texas lottery ticket sales, which in turn supports schools across the state.
Source: 12 News / Youtube.
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state investigations into this and another high-profile lottery win, emphasizing the importance of a trustworthy and lawful lottery system.
Meanwhile, the Texas Senate has passed a bill effectively banning online lottery ticket sales and third-party courier services, with the aim of restoring integrity to the lottery and preventing illegal sales to minors or out-of-state customers.
Also read: This Walmart worker became a millionaire on a day off – What unexpected move changed her life?
Have you ever faced a situation where a rule change affected you unexpectedly? How do you think the Texas Lottery Commission should handle this situation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
That's precisely the predicament facing one Texan, whose life-changing win has been put on indefinite hold due to a sudden rule change regarding online third-party lottery vendors.
The story begins with an anonymous woman from Austin, who, on February 17, used the digital courier service Jackpocket to purchase what would turn out to be the winning lottery ticket.
Jackpocket, a service that buys lottery tickets on behalf of customers for a fee, seemed like a convenient way to play. However, the celebration was short-lived.
In a twist of fate, Texas Lottery officials are now withholding the jackpot following a new ban on online third-party vendors—a ban that came into effect after the ticket was purchased.
The ban was part of a sweeping change aimed at eliminating the use of courier services to buy lottery tickets, which the Texas Lottery Commission argues lack regulatory oversight.
A Texas Lottery winner is being denied her $83.5 million jackpot due to a rule change regarding online third-party vendors. Image source: Alejandro Garay / Unsplash.
The plot thickened when Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick highlighted the issue in a video, pointing out that the winning ticket was sold at Winner’s Corner, a store owned by DraftKings, which also owns Jackpocket.
Patrick's concern was that this could be more than just a coincidence and might raise questions about the integrity of the state lottery.
Despite the concerns, Winner's Courier is a licensed service by the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC), making the sale legal.
Yet, the commission's Executive Director, Ryan Mindell, has expressed a strong stance against courier services, citing a need to maintain public trust and comply with legal regulations.
The winner's attorney, Randy Howry, has been vocal in defending his client, stating that she followed all the rules set by the TLC when purchasing her ticket through Jackpocket.
The winner herself has expressed a rollercoaster of emotions, from stress to anger, as she insists she has done nothing illegal or unethical.
The Texas Lottery Commission has remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for holding the prize, only stating that the claim is under review and subject to an external investigation.
Jackpocket has paused its operations in Texas in compliance with the ban, despite having operated in the state since 2019.
You might like: The golden ticket to fortune: California woman’s solo victory in $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot
The company has emphasized its adherence to TLC guidelines and transparency in its operations.
Moreover, Jackpocket has highlighted the potential negative impact on public education funding, as their service has contributed over $550 million in Texas lottery ticket sales, which in turn supports schools across the state.
Source: 12 News / Youtube.
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state investigations into this and another high-profile lottery win, emphasizing the importance of a trustworthy and lawful lottery system.
Meanwhile, the Texas Senate has passed a bill effectively banning online lottery ticket sales and third-party courier services, with the aim of restoring integrity to the lottery and preventing illegal sales to minors or out-of-state customers.
Also read: This Walmart worker became a millionaire on a day off – What unexpected move changed her life?
Have you ever faced a situation where a rule change affected you unexpectedly? How do you think the Texas Lottery Commission should handle this situation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
