Texas woman sues Lottery Commission over $83.5M courier ticket prize

A Texas woman is suing the Texas Lottery Commission, saying she won an $83.5 million jackpot, but the state won’t pay up because she bought her ticket through a popular courier app.

In a lawsuit filed in the District Court of Travis County, the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” says she matched all six numbers in the February 17, 2025, Lotto Texas drawing. She accuses the Lottery Commission of refusing to pay her winnings and acting “without integrity,” even though they’ve confirmed her ticket is valid.

Jane Doe sues Texas Lottery Commission claiming integrity issues

“In Texas, a deal is a deal, unless you are the Texas Lottery,” the lawsuit opens. Doe says that even though the Texas Lottery Commission verified her ticket and confirmed she is the rightful winner, she still has not received a dime.

In her lawsuit, she explains that she used the app Jackpocket.com, a well-known courier service, to buy her ticket. The numbers she picked, 19-21-25-45-47-52, hit the jackpot. The ticket was issued by Winners Corner, a licensed lottery retailer in Austin.

“Lotteries with integrity pay the winners. Responsible lotteries pay the winners. Anything short of that destroys the integrity of the lottery,” the lawsuit argues. “It shouldn’t take a lawsuit to get paid when you win the lottery.”

According to the lawsuit, the Texas Lottery Commission confirmed that Doe’s ticket was valid and that she was the “lawful bearer of the winning ticket,” but she still hasn’t been paid. The petition also says the commission’s own website continues to list her as the winner of the $83.5 million jackpot.

Sergio Rey named in lawsuit

Doe claims the commission, and specifically Sergio Rey, the acting deputy executive director named in the lawsuit, is dragging its feet under pressure from “one or more elected office holders” who oppose courier services.

She also points to a statement from February 24, 2025, by then-Executive Director Ryan Mindell, where he said the commission planned to ban ticket courier services going forward. The lawsuit calls out the move, suggesting it’s part of why her winnings are being withheld. “We all know the Commission is not allowed to change the rules after the drawing,” the lawsuit states, calling the move an illegal “ex post facto” policy shift.

Plaintiff calls for injunction and declaration

The plaintiff is now asking the court for a declaratory judgment and an injunction that would require the commission to pay her the full prize. She also wants the court to block the commission from using, moving, or spending any of the prize while the case is pending.

“If Mr. Rey is not immediately enjoined from disbursing the $83,500,000 jackpot prize… then Plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm,” the petition claims. The document also warns that the funds may be redirected “to other Commission liabilities or purposes.”

Doe’s legal team argues that Rey’s refusal to pay the winnings amounts to “ultra vires” conduct, which is actions taken beyond his legal authority, stating, “An officer acts without legal authority if he exceeds the bounds of his granted authority or if his acts conflict with the law itself.”

The plaintiff is being represented by attorneys Randy R. Howry, Sean Breen, and Matt Kelley from the Austin law firm Howry Breen & Herman.

So far, the Texas Lottery Commission hasn’t made any public comments about the lawsuit. However, Doe is still pushing for injunctive relief and a court ruling that officially names her the undisputed winner who should be paid without delay.

“The Texas Lottery has not acted with integrity, has not acted with responsibility, and has not paid Ms. Doe as the rightful and undisputed winner,” the lawsuit states.

“We all know the Commission is not allowed to change the rules after the drawing. But the Commission has apparently tried to do so…simply because she utilized a lottery ticket courier service to buy the winning ticket.”

New lottery legislation in Texas

The plaintiff filed her lawsuit just as lawmakers are pushing forward with new rules around the state lottery.

On Monday (May 26) the Texas House approved Senate Bill 3070 in a 112 to 27 vote. The bill would shift lottery oversight to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. It also includes a ban on courier services and puts a cap on buying more than 100 tickets in a single purchase.

The government should not be the biggest bookie in the state of Texas.

Abolish the Texas Lottery! pic.twitter.com/QMU144WVjl

— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 26, 2025

The Senate already passed the bill earlier this month. Now, it’s heading back to the Senate for a final vote after the House made some changes. If the Senate signs off on those amendments, the bill will be sent to Governor Greg Abbott to be signed into law.