Texas Lottery Scandal Diverts Attention From Sports Betting

• After an $83 million lottery jackpot was won, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick started an investigation into the Texas Lottery.
• The focus on ending mobile Lottery purchases in Texas could sway Patrick’s attention from Texas sports betting.

AUSTIN, Texas – A recent $83.5 million jackpot win in Austin is raising questions that could delay Texas’ push to legalize sports betting. The prize, won at the Winners Corner TX LLC store, is at the center of a growing investigation led by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

While the jackpot is grabbing headlines, it’s the controversy surrounding the store’s use of lottery courier services, that’s raising alarm bells—and may have long-term implications for the state’s legal sports betting legislation.

The $83.5 million win, the fifth-largest in the history of Lotto Texas, was purchased through Jackpocket, an app that allows Texans to place lottery orders online.

But this is not the first time the store has been involved in large wins. In fact, Winners Corner has seen a string of big-ticket victories, including a $2 million Lotto Texas win in December 2024. But now, Patrick is questioning whether the courier system violates the spirit of Texas’ original lottery laws.

“Do you not see an issue where the public might lose confidence if the courier service somehow happened at this one location in the entire state of Texas, selling an $83 million winning ticket?,” said Patrick.

Moving The Focus From Texas Sports Betting

This investigation comes at a pivotal moment for Texas’ gambling laws.

While lawmakers have filed measures to create a Texas sports betting industry in 2025, the ongoing controversy surrounding mobile lottery courier services like Jackpocket may cause further delays.

Plus, with biannual legislative sessions, the timeline for addressing these issues is tightening.

Sports betting advocates had hoped that 2025 could be the year Texas finally legalizes sportsbooks. But with Lieutenant Governor Patrick, a staunch opponent of sports betting, focusing on regulating courier services, the window for sports betting expansion may close once again.

Patrick’s opposition to sports betting is well-documented, and this latest scandal could drive him even further away from supporting legal online sportsbooks within the state.

Is The Texas Lottery Done For?

Patrick’s investigation and the legal issues surrounding couriers could also lead to a broader crackdown on mobile lottery services, as bills are currently on the table to seek a mobile lottery games ban.

With lawmakers concerned about underage and out-of-state Lottery play, Rep. Matt Shaheen filed TX HB 2918 that would abolish the state lottery. This is after filing TX HB 389 last November that called to end courier services in Texas and make mobile lottery games a criminal offense.

Jackpocket, along with other courier services, has vowed to fight these legislative efforts. CEO Peter Sullivan defended his company’s operations, claiming that the service is simply a way to modernize the lottery experience, making it more accessible to users while still adhering to Texas law.

As the issue continues to unfold, Texas’ sports betting prospects remain uncertain. If the state cannot resolve the controversy surrounding lottery courier services, it seems increasingly unlikely that sports betting will gain traction in 2025.

A bit of bad news for sports betting in Texas because the Texas Legislature operates on a biennial schedule. With this session scheduled to adjourn on June 2, 2025, the next opportunity for consideration would be in the 90th Legislature, which convenes in January 2027.

Absent special sessions called by the governor, if this lottery scandal takes the focus for spring and into summer, Texans would be looking at a few years before regulated sportsbooks opened in Texas.

News tags: Dan Patrick | DraftKings | Jackpocket | lottery | Lotto Texas | Matt Shaheen | Texas | TX HB 2918 | TX HB 389 | Winners Corner