A Texas woman’s $83.5 million lottery win remains in limbo as state officials investigate the app she used to purchase her ticket. The unidentified winner, who bought $20 worth of Texas Lotto tickets for the February 17 drawing through the Jackpocket app, has yet to receive her prize due to the ongoing probe.
Jackpocket, a lottery courier service, allows users to purchase tickets through its platform for a service fee. However, Texas lawmakers are pushing to ban such apps, arguing they operate in a legal gray area. The Texas Senate passed a bill in February seeking to outlaw courier services, and the measure is now under review by the Texas House.
The Texas lottery commission (TLC) declared that lottery courier services are illegal in the state, though Jackpocket maintains it has been operating within compliance since 2019.
Following the woman’s win, governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate the case, along with a separate 2023 jackpot win of $95 million. In that instance, a group strategically purchased over $25 million worth of tickets to cover almost every possible number combination.
The latest lottery winner insists her case is different, as she paid a fair $20 to play. “Sometimes there are reasons to investigate things, but I don’t think mine is one of them,” she told Nexstar.
Her attorney, Randy Howry, argues that she is the rightful winner and should receive her prize without further delay. “We played by all the rules, and we’re still playing by all the rules. We expect that my client should be paid,” Howry said.
Despite presenting her winning ticket to the TLC on March 18, the woman has yet to receive her payout, which typically occurs within three days. The TLC said that no decision would be made until the investigation concluded.
“How unfair would it be if she’s not paid her winnings?” Howry questioned. “Will this inspire confidence in others who want to play the Texas lottery?”
