• Texas woman wins $83.5M lottery jackpot but claims the state refuses to pay because she used the Jackpocket app to buy her ticket. In her attempt to claim the Woman Wins $83.5M jackpot, legal challenges have arisen.
• She filed a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission, accusing it of changing rules after the drawing which allowed her to win the $83.5M jackpot.
• The case raises concerns about fairness, legal use of lottery apps, and trust in the Texas lottery system. The Woman Wins $83.5M case becomes a discussion point about technology and legality.

A Texas woman won an $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot on February 17. But she says the state still hasn’t given her the money. She filed a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission on May 21. Her lawyers say the Commission refuses to pay even though it knows she won. They call the delay illegal and unfair. The woman chose to stay anonymous but came forward with a valid ticket. She used an app called Jackpocket to buy it. The state confirmed her win but won’t release the prize, thus complicating the Woman Wins $83.5M situation even further.

Lawsuit Claims Texas Lottery Ignoring the Rules

The law firm Howry, Breen & Herman represents the woman. They filed a complaint in Travis County District Court. They are suing Sergio Rey, the acting deputy executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission. The lawyers say the Commission refuses to act responsibly. They argue their client played by the rules and deserves her prize. The woman says the Commission confirmed she was the lawful winner back in March. Still, the money hasn’t been released. Her lawyers believe elected officials pressured the agency to hold back the prize.

App Used to Buy Ticket Under Heavy Scrutiny

The woman bought her ticket through Jackpocket, a mobile app. The app lets people legally buy Texas Lottery tickets from their phones. Jackpocket is owned by DraftKings, a sports betting company. The winning ticket came from Winner’s Corner in North Austin. DraftKings owns that store too. After the win, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick visited the shop. The manager told him the winning ticket came through a courier service. Patrick said the lottery must be fair for everyone. He raised concerns about using apps to play.

Governor Orders Deeper Look into Lottery Wins

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott got involved after the February 17 drawing. He asked law enforcement to investigate both the February win and a suspicious 2023 jackpot. These moves added pressure to the Texas Lottery Commission. Meanwhile, the woman’s lawyers said Jackpocket has operated in Texas for years. Thousands of people use the app without issues. They argue their client did nothing wrong by using it to play the lottery.

Commission Changes the Rules After the Drawing

A week after the woman won, then-executive director Ryan Mindell said Texas law didn’t allow lottery couriers. He also said the Commission would change its rules to block apps like Jackpocket. But her lawyers argue that changing rules after a drawing is illegal. The Commission accepted her ticket in March. They agreed she was the winner. But they used the new courier policy as a reason to hold back her prize. Her lawyers say that’s unfair and against Texas law.

Commission Refuses to Answer Questions About the Prize

The woman sent letters asking when she would get her prize. The Commission never replied. Her legal team said officials are stalling on purpose. They claim the Commission is avoiding responsibility. The complaint says their silence is not only unprofessional—it’s illegal. The lawsuit now asks a judge to declare her the winner and force the state to pay.

Woman Followed All Rules, Lawyer Says

Attorney Randy Howry spoke out on her behalf. He said she is a widow and mother of two. She has used Jackpocket for years with no problems. She always received past winnings through the app and didn’t want to leave her home to buy tickets in person. Just felt safer using her phone. Her lawyer stressed that she played fairly and did everything the right way. He said if the Lottery Commission refuses to pay winners who follow the rules, trust in the system will fall apart.

Winner Speaks Out, Says She Is Disappointed

In March, the woman gave an interview to the Austin American-Statesman. She said she was frustrated and confused. “I spent $20, not millions,” she said. “If there was an issue with someone else’s win, that’s not my fault.” She said the Commission needs to stop blaming players for its own failures. She never tried to cheat or game the system.

Texas Lottery Says Investigation Is Still Ongoing

On May 21, the Texas Lottery Commission gave a short statement. It said the winner had come forward and her claim was under review. Officials also said the case was part of an external investigation. They gave no further details and said they don’t comment on legal matters. In April, executive director Ryan Mindell stepped down. Sergio Rey took over on an interim basis. The Commission continues to face criticism from lawmakers and the public. The Woman Wins $83.5M case has drawn significant media attention and sparked discussions about the fairness of digital lottery purchases.

Woman Takes Stand to Get What She Won

The woman is not backing down. She filed her lawsuit to get the prize she earned. She followed all the steps, bought a legal ticket, and showed her winning numbers. Now she wants the court to step in. Her lawyers want a ruling that confirms her win and forces the state to pay. This case raises big questions about fairness, rule changes, and trust in the Texas Lottery. Many will watch closely to see what happens next in the Woman Wins $83.5M legal battle.