Texas's senator says that the state has to abolish “illegal lottery for organized crime”.

The Senator of Texas, Bob Hall, interpreted his case for the abolition of the Texas lottery in a hearing from the committee on Monday and called it an “illegal organized crime”.

Hall is the author of SB1988, who suggests to abolish the state lottery and to close the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) by January 1, 2026.

In an interview with the Senate Committee on State Affairs on Monday, Hall said that he believes that an “organized criminal scandal is in operation behind the sign of a Texan state government in Texas”.

This refers to an incident of 2023, in which a group of people spent 25 million US dollars for the purchase of 99% of the profit lottery card combinations and achieved a jackpot of 95 million US dollars.

He claimed that the TLC employees are involved in the “illegal operation for organized crime lottery” and that “there is no way to reorganize, restructure or restore the integrity of the government's integrity in Texas.”

He concluded his presentation of the proposed abolition by stating: “I firmly convince that the only legislative change that has a meaningful influence and the culture of the corruption of the organized crime center embedded in the government of Texas, which has completely and permanently abolished the lottery of Texas Lottery.”

Texas lottery scandal

According to reports, a group named Rook TX said around 25 million US dollars to buy almost all sorts of combinations for a Lotto -Texas drawing and in April 2023 to secure a jackpot of 95 million US dollars. As a result, Ryan Mindell, Executive Director of TLC, resigned from his position in 2023.

The TLC has transferred the matter to the FBI, and early examinations suggest that officials may have made the system easier by providing additional ticket minals and overlooking irregularities.

Hall also accused of couriers from third -party providers to take part in criminal activity. He explained: “The courier companies were the middleman between the groups and officers of the Advanced Lottery Commission were deliberately indifferent. In the worst case, they were co -snacks in the greatest financial crime since Enron.”

Last month, the TLC voted for the ban on Courier services such as Lotto.com from the company in the state. Lotto.com questions the legality of this step in court.

Texans play with a large number

Last year, Texan bought lottery cards worth over $ 8.9 billion and marked the second highest year of ticket sales. Without online casinos players in Texas, the lottery play or contact alternative platforms such as competitions. It is estimated that non -regulated gambling platforms were generated in the state last year over 4.5 billion dollars.

A ban on the state's only legal gambling can increase the number of weather with non -licensed operators. Angela Paxton, deputy chair of Committe, admitted that Hall's solution is “definitely the nuclear option”.

The lottery is due for a sunset check, and if the lifespan of the TLC is not extended, it will dissolve at the end of August of this year. Since the state's only game revenue comes from the lottery, it remains to be seen whether the legislator will allow this.

Hall's draft law was pending in the committee at the end of Monday. It could still be sent to the Senate floor, but there are only eight days left until the deadline of Texas House Bill.

If Texas were forbidden, a small number of states, including Utah and Alabama, would not allow state lotteries. Us Lottery Games are currently legal in 45 states.

Adam Roarty

Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gaming industry. For five years he worked as a content author and editor on websites such as Oddschecker, cointelegraph and gambling industry and conveyed excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling.