THE lottery player unable to cash in her ticket worth $83.5 million feels she has been caught in the crossfire as chiefs still refuse to pay out, her lawyer has said.
The Texas woman spent $20 on tickets using the courier service Jackpocket ahead of the draw on February 17, but is being denied what she believes is rightfully hers.
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She played by the rules at the time of her purchase before officials imposed a blanket ban on courier services retrospectively.
Randy Howry, who is representing the lottery player, has been left mystified by lotto bosses and the state’s alleged conduct, and hasn’t ruled out taking legal action if they do not pay out.
“What the Texas Lottery Commission is attempting to do, we believe it’s illegal,” he told The U.S. Sun.
“Their argument doesn’t have merit whatsoever and I don’t think it will ever stand up.”
Howry, a personal injury lawyer in Austin, opened up on the impact the saga has had on his client.
“She’s had the whole cycle of grief that many folks have,” he said.
“She feels like she’s getting caught in the crossfire.
“She’s just a regular person that played the lottery and now she’s been treated in this way.
“It’s fair to say she’s angry when she played by the rules.”
The saga has left the player considering whether to continue playing the lottery, according to Howry.
“If you can play by the rules and you win, and yet you don’t get paid, then why play?” he said.
“Others ought to be skeptical as well if Texas is going to play this game with its customers.”
Howry warned that legal action is not off the table in a blistering warning to lottery chiefs and Texas politicians.
“We’re not going to sit back and wait,” he said.
“In the next two months, we’ll make a step forward about litigation.
What is a lotto courier?
TEXAS lottery officials banned players from using courier services to buy tickets – one week after a gambler thought she had won $83.5 million. But what is a courier service?
A courier service is a third party platform that allows players to buy lotto tickets.
Gamblers can buy tickets from a lotto courier app, or its website.
Then, once an order is placed, the courier then buys the ticket from a retailer.
The courier then sends a picture of the ticket to the player.
The gambler pays the courier a fee so they can manage their tickets.
“If it’s not resolved, we’re going to be standing in front of a judge or a jury. We’ll present our case.”
But, he revealed that he’s exploring political options.
One such move is to have an audience with Texas governor, Greg Abbott.
“I really want Abbott to come forward and say ‘We’re not paying you, Miss Lottery winner, for X, Y and Z,” Howry said.
“We’re trying to find what the holdup is. Assuming we don’t get appropriate answers, then we will move to litigation.”
Within one week of the player’s victory, Texas Lottery chiefs banned courier services.
Abbott ordered Texas Rangers to conduct two probes.
One investigation relates to the $83.5 million winner, while the other focuses on a bulk lotto ticket purchase in April 2023.
In 2023, three men from Europe landed a $93.5 million prize after buying nearly 26 million slips.
Lawmakers in Texas have passed bills that would see courier services banned in the state if it became law.
COURIER SERVICES BAN
Critics of courier services believe the platforms allow underage players to buy tickets.
Lotto officials have claimed the crackdown is in place to protect the integrity of the game.
Gamblers pay the courier to buy the tickets from a store.
Usually, couriers charge customers a fee to manage their tickets.
“These activities all occur without the oversight of a regulating authority to ensure that the public is protected from potential crime and other harms,” the Texas Lottery said when imposing the ban.
But, the Texas Lottery Commission remains under scrutiny and Ryan Mindell has resigned from his post.
Officials refused to comment about his resignation.
Jackpocket suspended its operations in Texas in line after the ban was introduced.
“Jackpocket has operated in Texas since 2019 with full transparency and in compliance with guidance from the Texas Lottery Commission,” a spokesperson told The U.S. Sun.
” Despite our proven track record of compliance and commitment to responsible gaming, the Texas Lottery Commission has issued a new policy prohibiting our services, effective immediately.
“As a result, we are suspending lottery courier operations in Texas.”
“We remain dedicated to working with policymakers to ensure access to secure lottery options and working with the Texas Lottery Commission to craft regulations that would allow lottery courier services to continue in Texas.”
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Rosemary Casarotti – $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, December 27 2024, from California
- Unknown winner – $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, from New Jersey
