Texas Lottery Chief Quits Amid Scrutiny Over Jackpot Scandal

Posted on: April 22, 2025, 01:17h. 

Last updated on: April 22, 2025, 01:44h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Texas Lottery director resigns amid jackpot scandal
  • European syndicate exploited $95M lottery rollover
  • Courier services enabled mass ticket purchases

The executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission resigned Monday amid increasing scrutiny from lawmakers – not to mention the Texas Rangers — over a $95 million jackpot claimed after a European syndicate gamed the system.

Texas Lottery Commission, Ryan Mindell, $95 million jackpot, lottery syndicate
Ryan Mindell addressing a hearing of the Texas Legislature early this year. The embattled executive director handed in his resignation exactly one year after taking the reins. (Image: Fox 7 Austin)

Ryan Mindell’s resignation came less than two weeks after the state budget eliminated the Lottery Commission’s funding. Meanwhile, several bills have been introduced in both chambers that would either strip the agency of its authority or do away with it entirely.

Many lawmakers blame the commission for encouraging third-party lottery couriers and for creating the conditions that allowed the syndicate to win big.

Syndicate Exploited Lottery Rollovers

The April 22, 2023, Texas Lottery draw wasn’t normal. First of all, after 93 rollovers, it was one of those rare occasions when a lottery becomes mathematically exploitable.

Secondly, the odds were stacked against every player in Texas because a syndicate had bought 25.8 million tickets at a dollar each — enough to cover all possible winning combinations. That meant they were guaranteed to share the jackpot, at a minimum, while scooping millions in secondary prizes.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called it “the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas.”

This was only possible because of the existence of courier companies, which allowed players to buy tickets online and in bulk. It’s clear that the syndicate hired courier companies to work around the clock, processing the 25.8 million tickets they needed to pull off the scheme. Around 1 to 2 million tickets are sold for a typical weekly Texas Lottery draw.

Come to Grief

Mindell was executive director of the lottery for exactly 12 months. He took over the reins from his longstanding predecessor, Gary Grief.

Grief has been accused of courting lottery couriers without authorization from the legislature. In 2017, he traveled to California to lobby the founders of courier Lottery.com to relocate their business to Austin, Texas, according to a civil lawsuit.

A July 2024 report by the Sunset Advisory Committee (SAC), a Texas legislative commission tasked with reviewing the performance of state agencies, heavily criticized the Lottery Commission. It also stated that Mindell had raised concerns about some of Grief’s policies.

Mindell also worked to implement policies restricting bulk ticket buying after the syndicate’s win.

After criticism, Mindel said in February that the commission would ban lottery courier services and revoke the license of any outlet that sells tickets to such businesses. The agency had previously said it believed it lacked the authority to ban or regulate couriers.

A spokesperson for the Lottery Commission said the board would begin the process of choosing a new executive director at its next open meeting, scheduled for April 29.