Texas lawmakers unanimously agreed to pass a bill prohibiting lottery couriers in Texas. The measure, which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had been promoting for a while, was deeply disappointing to the Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers, which claimed that they have always honored the trust of their Texan customers.
Lottery Couriers Have Become a Point of Contention
Lottery couriers are companies that allow customers to play the lottery online by purchasing tickets on their behalf. Smaller prizes are automatically redeemed into players’ digital wallets, providing lottery enthusiasts with unparalleled convenience. While couriers usually take a cut of players’ deposits, their services continue to be enjoyed by millions of Americans.
Unfortunately, courier firms have raised certain concerns among lawmakers. Some drew parallels between lottery couriers and unlicensed online gambling, while others expressed worries that courier firms could be tied to transparency and integrity issues.
Some time ago, a European consortium used lottery courier services to buy out all tickets for a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot drawing, basically guaranteeing itself the win. Lawmakers argued that without the convenience offered by courier services, this wouldn’t have been possible.
As a result, the discontentment against lottery couriers reached a boiling point.
The Senate Agreed to Put an End to Lottery Couriers
The Senate passed SB 28, which was approved unanimously, spelling the end of lottery courier services in the Lone Star State. The measure passed 31-0, to the dismay of the industry and to the delight of Lt. Gov. Patrick.
The latter commented on the matter, comparing the aforementioned $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot win to a “theft” by a foreign syndicate. Patrick was astonished that the Lottery Commission had even allowed this to happen. He reminded Texans that the lottery jackpot is fueled by the money they spend on tickets, meaning that the consortium effectively swindled the people of Texas.
Patrick also criticized the Lottery Commission, saying that it should have regulated couriers, preventing instances of fraud. He reiterated that banning lottery couriers is the only logical step toward restoring public confidence in the lottery.
The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers Is Disappointed
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers expressed disappointment with the Senate’s vote. Officials were baffled that a “business state like Texas would consider shutting down companies that have for years followed the guidance and instruction of the Texas Lottery.”
The coalition further stated that it has always honored the trust of its customers in the state.
DraftKings, which owns the popular Jackpocket courier service, previously released a comment on the matter, refuting some of the misconceptions about lottery courier firms. Speaking about the Jackpocket platform, Peter Sullivan, senior vice president of lottery at DraftKings emphasized that his team makes sure that all its customers are age and geo-verified.
He added that Jackpocket is simply trying “to create a more convenient way for customers inside the state of Texas to play the game they already know and love.”
