Texas Lottery Winner Paid After Courier Dispute

Kristen Moriarty, a Houston-area mother of two, has secured her $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot after a prolonged dispute over the legality of online lottery courier services. She purchased the winning ticket via Jackpocket, an online courier app, at a time of heightened scrutiny and new restrictions on such services in Texas following previous bulk ticket purchase controversies. The Texas Lottery Commission initially withheld payment amid investigations and political pressure, prompting Moriarty to sue for her winnings. The dispute was resolved through a settlement guided by the Texas Attorney General's office, with Moriarty receiving nearly $46 million after taxes, mostly deposited into a trust account. The case contributed to new legislative actions criminalizing certain aspects of lottery courier operations in the state. Moriarty expressed relief at the settlement but frustration with the political entanglements surrounding her prize.