Texas Lottery Commission Allows Rigged Win

When a small group of Texas lottery retailers heard about a customer's ambitious plan to secure a guaranteed lottery win, they were in for an unprecedented ride. This daring move, which played out last spring, saw one individual ready to spend millions to buy nearly every possible numeric combination for the Lotto Texas draw. The result? An extraordinary jackpot of $95 million was on the line. To learn more about this incredible story, check out the original article on the Houston Chronicle.

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Last spring, a group of Texas lottery retailers got wind of a plan that sounded straight out of a heist movie. A mysterious customer wanted to buy every possible combination for the Lotto Texas draw, guaranteeing a win. With no jackpot winners for months, the prize had ballooned to $95 million by mid-April. To clinch it, this audacious player was ready to splash out millions on 26 million tickets. The Texas Lottery Commission, usually on top of ticket sales, saw an unprecedented spike, selling over 28 million tickets instead of the usual 1-2 million. However, instead of stopping the anomaly, they played along, bending their own rules to help facilitate the win.

Behind the Scenes: The Texas Lottery's Unexpected Help

Purchasing an entire draw isn't illegal in Texas, but it's certainly controversial. The Texas Lottery Commission, which should have been a watchdog, turned into an enabler. They expedited orders for extra ticket terminals and paper, helping retailers scale up operations rapidly. For instance, an Austin-based retailer, Lottery.com, dormant for months, suddenly requested 10 new terminals and a truckload of paper. Similar rush orders came from Waco and North Texas, showing the Commission's willingness to assist. In their zeal to help, they even overlooked critical requirements, such as verifying active bank accounts and ensuring retailers were genuinely operational and public-facing.

The Aftermath: Questions of Fairness and Transparency

The aftermath of the April 22, 2023 draw raised eyebrows and questions. The $95 million jackpot was claimed by Rook TX LLC, a New Jersey-based company, collecting $57.8 million after taxes. The Commission's role in assisting the win sparked debates about fairness. While not illegal, the lack of transparency and oversight painted the Commission in a bad light. Critics argue that the focus on profits over regulations undermines the lottery's integrity, disadvantaging regular players. The Texas Lottery Commission's actions echoed past controversies in other states, where big buyers exploited loopholes, prompting calls for tighter regulations to ensure a level playing field for all.

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For a deeper dive into this extraordinary tale of calculated risk and regulatory oversight, check out the full story on the Houston Chronicle.