AUSTIN, TX – The Lotto Texas game has made headlines with its fifth-largest jackpot in history, a staggering $83.5 million, claimed by a fortunate ticket holder. This jackpot had been accumulating since June 2024, with each drawing adding to the total sum after 102 consecutive draws without a winner. This sequence set a record for the longest-running jackpot in the game’s over 30-year history.
The lucky winner, opting for the cash payout, selected their own numbers, which matched all six drawn on Monday night: 19, 21, 25, 45, 47, and 52. The winning ticket was purchased at Winner’s Corner on Rockwood Lane in North Austin, a location with a history of selling winning tickets. Notably, in December 2024, a $2 million winning ticket was sold there, and in March 2021, a Texas Two Step ticket worth more than $2 million was also purchased from the same store.
Winner’s Corner operates as a lottery courier, a service legal in Texas since 2019, allowing residents to buy tickets online. A representative then purchases the ticket in person from a physical retailer. While this method has raised ethical and legal questions, it remains a legitimate practice in the state.
The recent win has drawn the attention of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who visited Winner’s Corner to conduct his own investigation. Concerns have been raised about the public’s confidence in the lottery system, especially given that the courier service is linked to the location where the winning ticket was sold.
In February, the Texas Lottery Commission sought guidance from the Attorney General’s office regarding its authority over transactions between couriers and customers. Simultaneously, a lawsuit is underway involving the Texas Lottery Commission’s former executive director, Gary Grief, who, along with a courier, faces accusations of money laundering, fraud, and manipulating lottery outcomes. Both parties deny these allegations.
Grief’s attorney has issued a statement emphasizing his client’s dedication during his 15-year tenure and his intention to cooperate fully with any official inquiries into the allegations.
As the investigation unfolds, the legitimacy of courier services and their role in the lottery system continues to be scrutinized, with officials and the public eager for transparency and trust in the process.