Texas Lottery Winner Faces Challenges Claiming $83.5M Prize

A woman from Austin, Texas, who won an $83.5 million lottery jackpot on February 17 using the Jackpocket app, may never receive her winnings due to ongoing investigations into the legality of her ticket purchase. Although she presented her winning ticket, the Texas Lottery Commission has withheld payment while examining potential violations of state law, as the use of lottery courier services is under scrutiny. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an investigation into both her win and a previous $95 million jackpot due to concerns of money laundering. The woman, expressing frustration and anger over the situation, argues that she played by the rules and her $20 purchase should be honored. Meanwhile, a bill aiming to ban such courier services has gained traction in the Texas legislature, further complicating the issue. The uncertainty surrounding her prize has raised questions about the integrity of the state's lottery system and the handling of such significant wins.