Texas woman sues state for unpaid $83.5 million lottery win
A Texas womans dream of instant wealth has turned into a legal battle after the state lottery refused to pay out her $83.5 million jackpot. The woman, known only as Jane Doe in court documents, claims she is being denied her prize simply because she bought her winning ticket through a lottery courier service, a method that was legal at the time of purchase but swiftly banned in the aftermath.
The winning ticket and a sudden rule change
Jane Doe bought her Lotto Texas ticket on 17 February 2025 through Jackpocket, a widely used app that lets people order lottery tickets online. The app placed the order with Winners Corner, a licensed lottery retailer based in Austin. Later that same night, her numbers came up, landing her the $83.5 million jackpot.
But just a week later, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) declared an immediate ban on unregulated lottery courier services, citing concerns about the integrity and security of the games in the wake of courier-facilitated wins. Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate the legitimacy of recent large lottery jackpots, including Does win, that he expects the Texas Lottery Commission to work within the bounds of the law and to ensure the trust and integrity of the lottery.
It shouldnt take a lawsuit to get paid
Frustrated by months of delays and silence from the TLC, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit on 19 May 2025 against acting executive director Sergio Rey, seeking a court order to compel the Commission to pay her winnings. The complaint, filed in Travis County District Court, is scathing in its criticism:
In Texas, a deal is a deal unless you are the Texas Lottery. Every Texan knows what that should mean when it comes to the lottery: if you win, you should get paid. When you win, the lottery should pay you, not stall, not waffle, not hem, not haw, not try and change the rules, and not try to back out of the deal.
The lawsuit continues:
Lotteries with integrity pay the winners. Responsible lotteries pay the winners. Anything short of that destroys the integrity of the lottery and shatters the confidence of those who play it. It shouldnt take a lawsuit to get paid.
According to the complaint obtained by , Does legal team argues that the Commission is not permitted to alter rules retroactively and that she has always received her winnings from Jackpocket in the past. They are merely obstructing the winner, delaying, and failing to act with integrity. What they are doing is, in fact, illegal, the complaint alleges.
Scandal, investigations, and legislative fallout
The controversy around courier services and bulk ticket purchases has rocked the Texas Lottery. Investigations by the Houston Chronicle revealed that groups of investors were using couriers to purchase massive numbers of tickets, effectively guaranteeing wins and raising questions about fairness.
Former TLC executive director Ryan Mindell resigned in April amid these scandals, saying, The rise of couriers in the state has raised significant [concerns] that the security, honesty, [and] fairness of lottery games are being compromised by the ongoing operations of courier services.
Lawmakers have responded with sweeping reforms. The Texas Senate recently passed SB3070, which bans lottery couriers and bulk ticket purchases and transfers lottery oversight to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Senator Bob Hall, a vocal critic, called for the Commissions abolition, declaring, The lottery commission has failed to uphold any of the principles of honesty and integrity that it has been charged by the Texas Legislature.
Meanwhile, the TLC maintains that Does claim is under review as part of ongoing investigations, telling NBC News, The claim is currently under review in accordance with the Commissions claim validation protocols and is also the subject of an external investigation. The agency cannot provide further details, as it does not comment on ongoing litigation and investigations.
Integrity under the microscope
Jane Doe is seeking a court ruling that will force the TLC to honour her winning ticket. As the legal and political battles continue, the outcome could set a precedent for how Texas, and other states, handle lottery winnings purchased through third-party couriers.
For now, the integrity of the Texas Lottery remains under the microscope, with both players and lawmakers watching closely to see whether a deal is a deal still holds true in the Lone Star State.
