Texas Lottery Winner Finally Paid $83.5M Jackpot After Lawsuit and State Crackdown
Texas lottery winner Kristen Moriarty has finally received her $83.5 million jackpot, five months after her prize was blocked amid a state investigation into the now-banned lottery courier services. The payout comes after Moriarty filed a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission, an agency that has since been dissolved by state lawmakers in the wake of the controversy.
Caught in a Political Firestorm
Moriarty’s ordeal began after her winning ticket, purchased through the courier app Jackpocket, was flagged by the state. Her prize was put on hold pending two separate state investigations into the legality of lottery courier services.
The crackdown was fueled by a previous scandal in 2023, when a betting syndicate used a courier service to buy 99% of all possible tickets to win a $95 million jackpot.
That incident put courier services in the crosshairs of lawmakers, and Moriarty’s win became the final catalyst for action. She found herself trapped in the middle of a legal and political battle she had no part in creating.
A Lawsuit and a Legislative Hammer
Frustrated by the delay, Moriarty sued the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) in May. She described the situation as a “political issue” that caused immense stress and a loss of faith in elected officials. Her lawyer, Randy Howry, argued that she had played fairly under the rules that were in place at the time of her purchase.
The Texas legislature responded to the controversy with swift and decisive action. They passed a new law, Senate Bill 3070, which criminalized lottery courier services and banned the purchase of more than 100 tickets in a single transaction. In the most dramatic move, the law completely dissolved the TLC, transferring its oversight duties to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, effective September 1.
With the legal landscape radically altered and the TLC on its way out, a settlement was reached between Moriarty and the lottery with the help of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office. The lottery confirmed that Moriarty will receive a lump-sum payment of $45.8 million before taxes.
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