Imagine winning a life-changing lottery jackpot—an incredible $83.5 million—and then being told you might not get your prize.
That’s exactly what happened to a Texas woman who thought she had struck gold, only to face months of uncertainty and legal hurdles.
Instead of celebrating, she’s now taking the Texas Lottery Commission to court, demanding what she believes is rightfully hers.
The Jackpot Win and the Controversial Ticket Purchase
Back in February, this woman purchased a $20 lottery ticket through an app called Jackpocket.
This app acts as a middleman, buying official state lottery tickets on behalf of users, all from the convenience of their phones.
She was thrilled to find out she had won the massive jackpot.
The Texas Lottery Commission confirmed her win, but the payout never came.
Her winnings were frozen, and soon the ticket became the center of a heated debate.
Lawmakers started scrutinizing third-party courier apps like Jackpocket, with some pushing for a total ban on these services in Texas.
Political Pressure and the Investigation
The controversy caught the attention of Texas officials, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
He personally visited the store where the winning ticket was originally sold — a DraftKings-owned location connected to Jackpocket — and wasn’t impressed.
Patrick pointed out that behind the scenes, the store operated in ways that seemed inconsistent with how the lottery was intended to function.
Patrick shared his concerns on social media, explaining that the lottery was meant to be a straightforward process: someone walks in, pays cash, and gets a ticket.
The involvement of hidden machines and courier services, he argued, was a misuse of the system.
The Lottery Commission’s Response
In the wake of the controversy, the Texas Lottery Commission took a strong stance.
They stated that courier services like Jackpocket are illegal under Texas law and announced plans to ban these platforms moving forward.
Shortly after, Governor Greg Abbott ordered a full investigation by the Texas Rangers into the woman’s win, as well as a separate, massive $95 million jackpot claimed in 2023 under suspicious circumstances.
The Woman’s Fight to Claim Her Prize
Despite the growing political storm, the woman insists she played by the rules.
She only bought one ticket—not millions of tickets like some previous lottery winners accused of exploiting the system.
Her legal team argues that she should not be punished for using a platform that was legal at the time of her purchase.
She said, “I literally spent $20. I didn’t spend millions to buy every possible number combination.” Her attorney emphasized that she simply played the lottery like any other regular citizen and followed all guidelines.
Taking the Texas Lottery Commission to Court
Fed up with waiting, the woman and her lawyers filed a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission and its acting deputy executive director, Sergio Rey.
The lawsuit claims the commission is unlawfully withholding her prize and acting without integrity.
They argue that the commission cannot retroactively change the rules after the ticket was purchased and the jackpot won.
Her legal team says the commission is stonewalling her, refusing to respond to inquiries about the prize’s status and ignoring their responsibilities. This, they say, is not only unfair but illegal.
The Broader Impact on Online Lottery Play in Texas
Jackpocket, the app used by the woman, has now been banned in Texas.
The company states it has always promoted responsible gambling, but the lottery commission’s crackdown means Texans can no longer use such services to buy tickets remotely.
For the woman, the money isn’t just about luxury—it’s a chance to change her life and explore new opportunities.
“This is an opportunity for me to do other things with my life, and I want to be able to go do those,” she said.
What’s Next for the $83.5 Million Jackpot
As things stand, the $83.5 million jackpot remains in limbo, tied up in legal battles and political investigations.
The woman’s lawyer has warned that if the prize isn’t paid out soon, they will explore every legal avenue to secure what she won.
Meanwhile, the future of online lottery gaming in Texas hangs in the balance, with lawmakers and the lottery commission debating the rules and legality of these third-party services.