Lotto.com, a Texas company, has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery Commission to prevent the banning of couriers from buying lottery tickets on behalf of customers. The ban is set to go into effect on April 29 if the court does not intervene. The company argues that the Commission changed rules without due process and unfairly targeted courier services. They also allege that the ban was politically motivated, as lawmakers voiced concerns about children buying lottery tickets through couriers.
The lawsuit comes after former executive director Ryan Mindell announced the ban in February, going against previous statements that lottery officials did not have the legal authority to stop couriers. Mindell resigned from his position earlier this week. Lotto.com claims that the Lottery Commission was aware of and assisted their efforts to make the lottery more convenient for Texans.
This legal battle is part of a larger controversy surrounding the Texas Lottery, with concerns raised over how the lottery is operated, especially regarding two controversial payouts involving bulk ticket purchases and the use of courier services. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into these winnings. In response, lawmakers have approved a bill in the Texas Senate that would ban courier services facilitating the sale of lottery tickets.
As Lotto.com fights against the ban, they are calling for a restart of collaboration between courier services and the Lottery Commission. The company is seeking relief from the court to prevent further restrictions on lottery courier services and to modernize the lottery while serving the public.
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