Texas lawmakers address lotto system after game cheated by foreigners

AUSTIN (KXAN)— Imagine playing the Texas Lottery, but the odds are systematically stacked against you in ways you might not expect.

There are what some call unfair rules that allow people to game the state’s lotto system when they buy tickets online through third-party services.

Recently, a $95 million jackpot was won . Those who pocketed the cash engineered the system.

On Tuesday, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs will look into lottery courier services. These allow people to buy lottery tickets online.

Lawmakers are set to examine whether these courier services are operating legally in the state and “whether a change in law is needed to respond to technological advancements to
protect children in our state and to maintain original legislative intent,” the committee agenda item read.

Eric Dexheimer, an investigative reporter from the Houston Chronicle who uncovered the loop, said that there are plans to make changes.

“What they’re doing is putting some obstacles in place to make it less likely that it’ll happen again,” Dexheimer said. “So, one of the things that the Texas Lottery Commission did was … provided official lottery terminals, which you need to print out tickets. And these were some outlets that had barely printed any tickets prior to this, so they needed new equipment.”

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