Gary Grief, former executive director of the now-dissolved Texas Lottery Commission, is alleged to have used his position to defraud the state during a 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.

The indictment accused Gary Grief of misusing his position to defraud the state in a highly scrutinized $95 million 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.

John Huffman was the best-funded candidate in the Senate District 9 special election thanks to casino interests, but failed to make the runoff. Gambling proponents still have millions more to spend on Texas races.

While the state's strict ban on gambling hasn’t changed, fast-growing daily fantasy sports and prediction market apps are giving Texans new ways to wager without leaving home.

After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1.

Despite a $556 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs on Friday morning, only a handful of people showed interest.

The agency initially blocked the payout because of two state investigations into now-banned lottery courier services, one of which sold the winning ticket.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.

SB 3070, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, would move the lottery game to Texas’ Department of Licensing and Regulation and includes new restrictions on ticket purchases.

Senate Bill 3070 would allow the Texas Lottery’s games to continue under a new department, abolish the agency and create restrictions on ticket purchases.

A key Senate critic threw a lifeline to the Texas Lottery when he proposed moving its oversight to a new agency instead of eliminating it entirely.

In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Tribune reporter Ayden Runnels about lottery couriers and whether a $95 million prize winner was legitimate.

After years of claiming that companies selling lottery tickets online could not be regulated, the Texas Lottery Commission voted to ban the practice.

Lotto.com’s suit, which was filed Thursday, comes less than a week before the state agency votes to ban the third-party services.

The executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission has resigned in the latest shake-up at the state’s retail gambling enterprise amid multiple investigations into large jackpots in 2023 and earlier this year and threats from some lawmakers to shut it down.

The Texas Lottery Commission did not immediately clarify why Ryan Mindell chose to resign, as lawmakers have discussed abolishing the lottery outright.

Among the hundreds of amendments were ones that focused on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office and the Texas Lottery.

Lottery couriers have gained newfound scrutiny in Texas after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised questions about the use of a courier to sell an $83.5 million jackpot ticket.

The winning ticket, purchased online through the courier Jackpocket, is being scrutinized by lawmakers concerned about the legality of third-party services.

A possible reassignment of the charitable games comes as 15 bills in the Legislature seek to either alter or abolish the troubled agency.

Unanimous passage in the Senate comes after top Texas officials say the third-party services undermine trust in the lottery.

AG Ken Paxton’s office joins two other investigations by state officials into the commission as one service suspends operations due to the agency’s ban.

Two of the biggest lottery jackpots in Texas history are under investigation over claims that the winners may have benefitted from more than good luck.

The policy shift was announced before state senators, skeptical of the move, grilled officials with the department and courier services in a hearing on SB 28.

Clark Smith, one of five members of the commission, stepped down Friday as lawmakers have raised questions about the role of lottery couriers and agency governance.

While the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.

Mega Millions lottery tickets across the U.S. will increase next year under a new proposal from the Texas Lottery Commission, according to a press release from Mega Millions.

Buying Mega Millions lottery tickets in Texas could double next year under a new proposal from the state lottery commission.

A Converse resident is now a millionaire after winning $2 million from a Powerball ticket.

A lucky San Antonio resident won $1 million from a Texas Lottery scratch-off game purchased at a tax center inside South Park Mall.

A Boerne resident won $20 million in a Texas Lottery scratch-off game.

Two Texans are millionaires and they might not know it after lottery officials say a pair of second-tier winning tickets worth $1 million are still unclaimed.

SAN ANTONIO – The jackpot for Lotto Texas has grown to an estimated $34.75 million making it the fifth-largest jackpot in the world, according to Texas Lottery officials. The next drawing for Lotto Texas is Wednesday and it’s the largest jackpot prize for the lottery game since a May 2014 drawing worth $36.25 million. “Lotto Texas players have been waiting more than six years for a jackpot this large,” said executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission Gary Grief. “I look forward to congratulating the biggest Lotto Texas winner since 2014. Lotto Texas is played by picking six numbers from one to 54 and drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 p.m.Related:

SAN ANTONIO A Schertz resident is now a millionaire thanks to the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Instant Millionaire. The winning ticket was sold at the H-E-B located at 14087 OConnor Road, on the corner of Nacogdoches, according to a press release. The winner has elected to remain anonymous. RELATED: Atascosa County resident wins $5 million from scratch-off lottery ticketThere are now 18 of 40 second-tier prizes available, each worth $1 million for the Instant Millionaire game, which offers more than $519 million in prizes. There are five available top prizes left, worth $2.5 million each according to the Texas Lottery Commission.

SAN ANTONIO One Atascosa County resident is $5 million richer after purchasing a winning scratch-off lottery ticket. The Texas Lottery Commission said Friday that a McCoy resident received the top prize in the Winning MIllions game. The ticket was purchased at the Kuntry Korner store located at 2725 Commerce St. in Campbellton, according to a news brief. Map: 60 stores that sold the most winning lottery tickets in San Antonio area in 2019The commission said the ticket was the last of four top prizes worth $5 million in the Winning Millions game. That particular scratch-off offers more than $170 million in total prizes.