Lotto Texas $83.5 million jackpot winner says she was denied payout

Comment #34

KY Floyd — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 06:47:56 GMT

A woman who came forward to claim an $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot this week says she was denied a payout while the win undergoes a state investigation.

[checks date of article, looks at calendar]

That poor woman. How can they treat her so unfairly and make her wait at least 4 or 5 days for her money? Have they no sense of decency?

How does one trust a courier service when buying a lotto ticket that could be worth millions?

I've wondered about that. They'd be crazy to keep... [ More ]

Comment #33

TwoMillion — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 23:38:36 GMT

it's not like TX lottery is a saint. they refuse to take money from couriers. they've taken money from couriers over the years (a way for growing the jackpot, I guess).

you took the chance, the house lost, now pay up.

Comment #32

Artist77 — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:59:08 GMT

Her only cause of action here is seeking her entitled winnings. She is not going to get damages for delays due to an ongoing investigation.

By the way, mental distress has a high standard of proof and one needs to show serious effects on your daily functioning, psychiatrists and physician reports, etc. Inconvenience is not mental distress. Also, claiming mental distress could open the winner to having a family member claim down the road that she is mentally incompetent to manage her affairs

Comment #31

EnReval — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:38:13 GMT

Yes am just saying that if a cust can purchase a scratch off thru the courier and a winning tkt by anyone is not investigated then why shld a winning lottery tkt purchased thru courier cause a big issue

this is just an example but I would be upset at u holding millions of my $$$

punitive damages

Comment #30

Artist77 — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:54:28 GMT

There is no proof for any of those things.

Comment #29

EnReval — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:49:55 GMT

So it's ok if she won on a scratch off but not a lottery ticket

not right at all

Comment #28

EnReval — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:47:22 GMT

Agreed just stalling, she shld sue for mental damages and falsifying the lottery approval of knowing couriers exist

Comment #27

EnReval — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:46:57 GMT

So I know exactly how the person voted

Comment #26

welington — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:54:14 GMT

When you lose using a courier it's ok but win and all the accusations begin. The courier was legal ,the bet was legal ,trying not to payout illegal

Comment #25

Todd — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:09:20 GMT

You read it wrong. The winner uses a courier's app to buy lotto tickets and scratch tickets periodically. The Texas Lottery itself does not offer that ability.

Comment #24

ShagE3 — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 03:20:37 GMT

P.U.: What stinks?

Answer: Texas.! PERIOD EXCLAMATION POINT

Ques: Any updates on International PowerBall?

Well I think I better go to bed now ..... just ate corned beef, roasted cabbage and onion and rutabaga, boiled potatoes and carrots. And although I had Guinness in the cabinet I didn't place it in the fridge to get it cold to drink so I stuck with spring H2O and dragon juice.

ShagE

Comment #23

positano — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 02:49:32 GMT

At the time of purchase, the courier operator produces the ticket with the wager, and stores it. If it is a low-prize winning ticket, it cashes the prize and send the money to the plays.

If the win is above $600 the courier operator sends/gives the ticket to the original player and this one is the one claiming the ticket going to the lottery office.

Comment #22

LottoNoobie — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 02:23:18 GMT

Texas has a mobile app that allows people to purchase games in the comfort of their home. The winner in this story said she has used it before to purchase scratch offs and play Texas Lotto, but used a Courier app and won the jackpot......

Comment #21

Brock Lee — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:49:02 GMT

Comment #20

lakerben — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:38:45 GMT

You could be right.

Comment #19

Todd — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:14:59 GMT

Yes, exactly. Couriers are perfect for people who can't easily get to a store for one reason or another. The elderly, someone who doesn't or can't drive, the disabled, people in rural areas (as is the case of much of Texas), or maybe someone who has to work two or three jobs. All of these people get disenfranchised when couriers disappear.

Comment #18

noise-gate — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:20:16 GMT

What if this person is wheelchair bound like the Gov of TX can't get around as freely as others can

Comment #17

dickblow — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:17:17 GMT

Comment #16

spartan1707 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:23:39 GMT

That would be too easy. Republicans like to outsource simple things to make money and complicate the process period. Next move is too out source the lottery to the very same company that runs the state lottery with a contract with no state oversight and full on computers.

Comment #15

Tony Numbers — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:08:16 GMT

How does one trust a courier service when buying a lotto ticket that could be worth millions? Personally if I were to play, I want the actual ticket/tickets in my hand.

Comment #14

EnReval — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:54:13 GMT

So why don't TX just create their own online purchase system

Comment #13

EnReval — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:53:15 GMT

Ok thanks for letting me know then there shld be I issue

they paid the last winner

Comment #12

Todd — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:13:12 GMT

ALL courier purchases within the Texas are made by people located within the state. That's in the story.

Why did she use a courier? Maybe she didn't want to go to the store, or couldn't for some reason. Who cares why? Lots of people use the courier services, so I would assume they all have a preference.

There is no suspicion that the ticket was lost. Quite the opposite. The fact that she tried to claim it would imply that she has possession of the ticket.

Comment #11

Todd — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:11:07 GMT

Yes, she was. Just read the story:

The anonymous woman underscored that she abided by law when purchasing her ticket that she is over 18 years of age and had purchased her winning ticket within the state of Texas.

Comment #10

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:49:32 GMT

Makes me wonder if the courier lost the actual physical ticket or tried to claim on it.

And why would she need to be in Texas to purchase through a courier??? Is the courier only licensed in certain states? I know it is a Texas game.

Comment #9

EnReval — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:47:16 GMT

Exactly, ain't no way, people have been purchasing online jackpocket for years in TX including me

now the tricky part is was she located in TX when she purchased the ticket

Comment #8

Todd — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:45:11 GMT

Good question. We have been unable to reach her attorney to get any of our questions answered. We'll update if we do.

Comment #7

Brock Lee — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:03:23 GMT

after she made the purchase via courier, did she ever have physical possession of the ticket

Comment #6

lakerben — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:34:41 GMT

All these conspiracy theories I wonder why

Comment #5

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:03:41 GMT

Thanks Todd. Very interesting and I learned something new.

Comment #4

Todd — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:42:11 GMT

Reputable ones make a scan of the actual ticket available to the customer before the drawing.

I say reputable , because some scammy companies that do not buy real tickets make fake ticket images that look like this

Comment #3

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:17:23 GMT

Thanks Todd. With courier services is one just sent a screenshot of the ticket? How does one know that a real ticket purchase was made? And what is the visual proof to the lottery

Comment #2

Todd — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:03:11 GMT

Yes to all three questions. The lottery declined to answer if the claim process for this jackpot was being handled any differently than other jackpot claims before it, due to pending litigation and ongoing investigations .

If it is being handled any differently, people can come to their own conclusions about the motivation for that, but they didn't say.

BTW, it's not illegal in Texas to use a courier even now, AFAIK.

Comment #1

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:10:41 GMT

Am I following this story correctly?

1. The winner is not part of an effort to buy a massive amount of tickets?

2. This courier was not barred at that time?

3. It was not illegal to use courier services when she purchased the ticket?

It sounds a bit like they are trying to create an ex post facto law.

Lotto Texas $83.5 million jackpot winner says she was denied payout

Lottery Post — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:01:15 GMT

Jackpot payout pending amid state investigation

By Kate Northrop

A woman who came forward to claim an $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot this week says she was denied a payout while the win undergoes a state investigation.

The winner, who allegedly purchased the sole jackpot-winning ticket through a lottery courier in February, has taken to speaking with media outlets to voice her frustrations with having her win scrutinized and being delayed in receiving a prize payout.

She spoke... [ More ]