A Texas woman who won a staggering £70 million lottery jackpot in February has yet to receive any of her winnings three months later. Instead of celebrating her life-changing fortune, she is now embroiled in a legal battle against the Texas Lottery Commission.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased her winning ticket through Jackpot, a third-party courier app designed to allow users to buy state lottery tickets via their mobile phones. While the Texas Lottery has officially acknowledged her win, they have launched an investigation into the legality of courier app purchases, casting doubt over the legitimacy of how the ticket was obtained.
Authorities are considering banning the use of such apps altogether, as lawmakers currently question the legality of third-party ticket purchases. The woman’s lawsuit is directed at Sergio Rey, acting deputy executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission. She claims she is being treated like a “bad guy” despite following all rules.
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Her attorney, Randy Howry of Howry, Breen and Herman, LLP, emphasized in a KXAN interview that they expect the client to be paid: “We played by all the rules, and we’re still playing by all the rules.” He stressed the frustration of having to resort to legal action to claim a prize she clearly won.
Winner’s Corner, the retail location affiliated with Jackpot and part of sports betting giant DraftKings, sold the victorious ticket. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick voiced concerns about the use of courier apps, emphasizing that the lottery is intended for physical ticket purchases through official terminals. “If people are going to have confidence in the lottery, we have to be sure that no one has an advantage,” Patrick stated, asserting that courier services are not aligned with how the lottery was designed to operate.
The legal complaint highlights that the woman spent around $20 to purchase her lottery tickets via the app, one of many Texans who rely on such services. The lawsuit complains that the Texas Lottery Commission has failed to act with “integrity” and “responsibility” by withholding the winnings from the rightful winner.
Additionally, Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an investigation into her jackpot claim and another massive $95 million prize won by Rook TX, a business entity, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in Texas lottery operations.
As the legal dispute unfolds, the woman remains steadfast in demanding what she legally earned, challenging the Texas Lottery Commission to honor her record-setting jackpot.