Gary Grief, former executive director of the now-dissolved Texas Lottery Commission, is alleged to have used his position to defraud the state during a 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.

The indictment accused Gary Grief of misusing his position to defraud the state in a highly scrutinized $95 million 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.

John Huffman was the best-funded candidate in the Senate District 9 special election thanks to casino interests, but failed to make the runoff. Gambling proponents still have millions more to spend on Texas races.

While the state's strict ban on gambling hasn’t changed, fast-growing daily fantasy sports and prediction market apps are giving Texans new ways to wager without leaving home.

Somebody is about to be a lot richer after Wednesday’s Texas Powerball drawing.

After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.

SB 3070, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, would move the lottery game to Texas’ Department of Licensing and Regulation and includes new restrictions on ticket purchases.

Senate Bill 3070 would allow the Texas Lottery’s games to continue under a new department, abolish the agency and create restrictions on ticket purchases.

A key Senate critic threw a lifeline to the Texas Lottery when he proposed moving its oversight to a new agency instead of eliminating it entirely.

In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Tribune reporter Ayden Runnels about lottery couriers and whether a $95 million prize winner was legitimate.

After years of claiming that companies selling lottery tickets online could not be regulated, the Texas Lottery Commission voted to ban the practice.

Lotto.com’s suit, which was filed Thursday, comes less than a week before the state agency votes to ban the third-party services.

The Texas Lottery Commission did not immediately clarify why Ryan Mindell chose to resign, as lawmakers have discussed abolishing the lottery outright.

Among the hundreds of amendments were ones that focused on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office and the Texas Lottery.

Lottery couriers have gained newfound scrutiny in Texas after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised questions about the use of a courier to sell an $83.5 million jackpot ticket.

The winning ticket, purchased online through the courier Jackpocket, is being scrutinized by lawmakers concerned about the legality of third-party services.

A possible reassignment of the charitable games comes as 15 bills in the Legislature seek to either alter or abolish the troubled agency.

Unanimous passage in the Senate comes after top Texas officials say the third-party services undermine trust in the lottery.

AG Ken Paxton’s office joins two other investigations by state officials into the commission as one service suspends operations due to the agency’s ban.

Two of the biggest lottery jackpots in Texas history are under investigation over claims that the winners may have benefitted from more than good luck.

The policy shift was announced before state senators, skeptical of the move, grilled officials with the department and courier services in a hearing on SB 28.

Clark Smith, one of five members of the commission, stepped down Friday as lawmakers have raised questions about the role of lottery couriers and agency governance.

While the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.

Someone from Mexico won more than $1 million on a winning Texas Two Step ticket purchased at an HEB store in South Texas.

A Tomball resident has claimed a $3 million prize after purchasing a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket at a northwest Houston store.

A lucky Powerball winner who bought a ticket from a store on Houston’s southwest side won’t be so lucky if they don’t hurry up and claim their ticket!

A winning lottery ticket was sold in Pearland and the Texas Lottery Commission said the prize has not yet been claimed.

Someone in Missouri City is $2 million richer.

The Texas Lottery Commission said a resident of Porter has claimed a $1 million prize from a scratch-off ticket.

State lotteries are spending more than a half-billion dollars a year on pervasive marketing campaigns designed to persuade people to play often, spend more and overlook the long odds of winning.

HOUSTON – Two lucky people woke up at least a million dollars richer, thanks to two winning lottery tickets sold in the Houston-area. On Christmas Day, the Texas Lottery Commission reported that a Mega Millions ticket with a prize amount of $1 million was sold at a Kroger in Katy located at 2700 W. Grand Parkway N. The winning numbers were 17, 23, 36, 69 and 70. On Dec. 26, it was announced that there was a winner of a Powerball ticket sold at a Fiesta Mart located at 11006 Airline Dr. The winning numbers: 10, 24, 27, 35 and 53. A Powerball ticket with a prize amount of $1 million was also sold at a Tiger Mart located in Cleburne.

HOUSTON – This weekend, Texans have the rare chance to win $42.75 million -- the largest jackpot prize in North America, according to Texas Lottery. “Saturday night’s Lotto Texas jackpot is the largest lottery prize available on the continent and can only be won by a Texas Lottery player,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission. “We’re hopeful that at least one player wins the biggest jackpot the game has seen in more than a decade this weekend. It only takes one ticket to win.”Previously, the highest jackpot was $97 million sold in Dallas in May 2010, according to Texas Lottery. So far in 2020, there has only been one Lotto Texas jackpot winner, a Laredo resident, who claimed $17.5 million in January.

HOUSTON – The Texas Lottery Commission announced that it’s planning to reopen all 16 claim centers on June 1. Those who would like to make a claim will be processed by appointment only until further notice. “We will continue to monitor the developments of the coronavirus situation day-by-day, while working with state officials, as we determine next steps in our claim center reopening process. The ticket must be postmarked on or prior to the claim expiration date and should be mailed to: Texas Lottery Commission ATTN: Austin Claim Center PO Box 16600 Austin, TX 78761-6600. For additional information and for mail-in claim forms, click on its website here.

Where does all the money go?