AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Rangers to investigate two lottery jackpot wins that have been scrutinized by lawmakers and raised questions about the integrity of the state’s lottery.
“Texans must be able to trust in our state’s lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully,” Abbott said in a news release. “Today, I directed the Texas Rangers to fully investigate these incidents and identify any potential wrongdoing. Texans deserve a lottery that is fair and transparent for everyone.”
The investigations will be focused on a $95 million jackpot win from April 2023 in which a single entity, Rook TX, bought almost every single combination of tickets to almost ensure a victory. The second is an $83.5 million jackpot won last week in northwest Austin at a retailer owned and operated by courier service Jackpocket.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick went inside the retailer’s storefront, Winners Corner, to investigate the store after the win. In the back, Patrick said he wasn’t allowed to film, but saw a large-scale courier operation taking place.
“Our count was somewhere around 30 terminals just run, run, running, running — spitting out tickets,” Patrick said. “You have a little retail shop that’s violating the spirit of the law or maybe the law totally, about how they’re selling other items, and they won’t let me go behind the wall and take a photograph of what they’re doing. If it’s all on the up and up, what are they afraid of showing the public?”
Texas Lottery Commission bans courier services
The action by the governor comes just hours after the Texas Lottery Commission announced it was banning lottery courier services, which allow players to order lottery tickets using a phone or the internet in the state.
Within hours, the app Jackpocket was no longer usable, saying “Game play is currently suspended and you are unable to place a new order for tickets. An update will be provided shortly. Orders that have already been placed will continue to be processed.”
On Monday afternoon at the Winners Corner, KXAN reporters found the whirring of lottery terminals in the backroom had stopped and was replaced with the chatter of employees talking about the ban. One jokingly suggested that ‘DOGE’ must’ve gotten to them.
The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers, of which Jackpocket is a member, said in a statement:
“Lottery couriers have been legally and responsibly operating in Texas since 2019, while always maintaining a transparent and professional relationship with the Texas Lottery Commission. Throughout this process, the TLC has claimed to have no regulatory authority over courier activities, despite couriers’ persistent requests to be regulated, just as we are in other states. Today’s decision by the TLC to ban lottery courier services is abrupt, disappointing and unnecessary. We will continue to encourage a regulatory solution, such as the one proposed by HB 3201, which allows our millions of Texas customers to continue to safely and conveniently order lottery tickets using our services.”
Doubling-down
Sen. Bob Hall, R – Edgewood, has said in the past either the Texas Rangers or FBI need to investigate the lottery courier services in Texas and recent wins. He is the author of a bill that would criminalize playing the lottery over the phone. His bill is being heard in the State Affairs committee Monday afternoon.
Calling for an even bigger investigation
In response to Abbott’s investigation announcement, Patrick responded on X, saying in part, “I told Gov. Abbott we may need a Texas Rangers investigation into the lottery. I am very pleased that the governor announced a call for a Texas Rangers investigation into two jackpot-winning drawings,” Patrick wrote. “However, based on new admissions by the Texas Lottery Commission today in public statements and testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, as well as their testimony before the Senate Finance Committee 2 weeks ago, and Senator Bob Hall’s meticulous layout today of troubling facts going back to 2016 when the Lottery Commission began to allow couriers, it’s clear this investigation needs to be broadened, covering every aspect of what the Texas Lottery Commission has done since that time. Therefore, I will be sending a letter to the Texas Rangers to add to what Gov. Abbott has already asked, asking them to expand their investigation to any and all matters related to the Lottery Commission first allowing lottery couriers into Texas and any and all possible crimes internally or externally arising from the Lottery Commission’s actions or failures to act,” he continued.
Patrick cited Lottery Commission Director Ryan Mindell telling legislators on Monday that there were more attempts to purchase bulk tickets after the April 2023 drawing as a key reason for a broader investigation.
