A LOTTO player who thought she landed a whopping $83.5 million jackpot may not see a single cent of her prize as officials probe whether her win was legitimate.
The player, from Texas, came up trumps on February 17 on the state’s lottery game after buying $20 worth of tickets over the phone.
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She used the courier service Jackpocket and the ticket was sold by a Winners Corner location in Austin; however days later, officials claimed the providers are banned under state law.
Despite trying to come forward and claim her prize, she hasn’t been paid out, per The Austin–American Statesman.
The uncertainty about whether her win is legitimate is impacting her.
“I’ve gone through frustration and being sad and stressed,” she told the outlet.
“I’m disappointed. I’m very disappointed.”
She revealed that the emotion of being sad has now turned to anger.
“I’m being treated as the bad guy,” she told Nexstar.
The lotto player, who is over 18, doesn’t know when she will get her fortune.
She claimed she just spent $20 on the tickets, rather than millions of dollars on different combinations.
Her lawyer, Randy Howry, claimed Texas lotto chiefs haven’t provided any details on when she will be paid out.
The $83.5 million win is just one of the cases Texas lotto chiefs are probing.
They are also investigating a win where a gambler landed a $95 million lottery jackpot in April 2023.
On February 24, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to probe both cases.
“Texans must be able to trust in our state’s lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully,” he said.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Rosemary Casarotti – $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, December 27 2024, from California
- Unknown winner – $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, from New Jersey
Officials are probing the cases for any signs of money laundering.
“Texans who play the lottery must be confident it is an honest and fair game they can trust,” Dan Patrick, the state’s lieutenant governor, has warned.
Texas lotto officials have since deemed courier services illegal.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, is also conducting his own separate probe into the cases.
The state senate has passed a bill banning lottery ticket sales via courier services.
The proposal would also make it a crime to buy lotto tickets online.
Meanwhile, Jackpocket officials have frozen operations in Texas while the investigation continues.
But, gamblers who suffered from eyesight problems have been left disappointed by the ban on courier services.
Blake Cottle revealed his eyesight issues have prevented him from driving.
He told Nexstar services like Jackpocket were convenient.
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