Texas lottery in crisis: understand the scandal

At Texas Lottery Commission, things become more messy. Just one week after the resignation of its executive director, the Commission banned all third-party lottery services from third-party services, and now there is a real conversation that the entire lottery in Texas could be in the chop.

Courier services held responsible for jackpot controversy

Courier services such as Lotto.com and Jackpocket have Texan lottery cards buy online. However, critics say that these platforms have opened the door for potential fraud. Two massive payments, one for 95 million US dollars and the other for $ 83.5 million, increased red flags. In one case, the winner allegedly used a courier service. According to reports, someone in the other has bought almost 26 million number combinations to ensure a victory.

Now the Texas Rangers and the Attorney General are investigating whether Courier Services gives certain players an unfair advantage and whether the state supervisory authorities looked in the other direction.

All of this comes when the Texas Lottery Commission undergo its 12-year review by the Sunset Commission, a process that determines whether the agency should continue to exist. At the beginning of this year, the Texas House took a brave step when the TLC budget had suspended. If this decision does not change before the end of the legislative period in June, the lottery as we know it could disappear.

New ban, new leadership and a large decline in sales

When the public is shaken, the Commission takes steps. The incumbent executive director Sergio Rey says that the intersection of the courier ban has started immediately. Every company that is still working with couriers is to lose its license.

But not everyone is on board. Lotto.com sued the state and said that the ban had come out of nowhere after years of state cooperation. The coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers is more about politics than public security. They support a legislative template that would regulate couriers instead of prohibiting annual audits and more surveillance through license fees.

In the meantime, lottery sales are already being met. Scratches and Draw game revenues have dropped since the scandal made headlines. Some Texans have flat that they no longer trust the system. “You have lost players. There is no doubt,” said Rob Kohler, long -time gaming critic. “People feel like it is repaired.”

Is the future of the lottery in danger?

Texas brings around 2 to 3 billion US dollars out of the lottery every two years. Lose that would leave a massive hole in the state budget. But with political pressure, public skepticism and several investigations in motion movements, there is still no clear answer to what comes next.

A public session of the Texas Lottery Commission, which is planned for April 29 (May “, throw more light off. One thing is certain: whether it is a total overhaul or a shutdown, the Texas lottery has big changes.