How a secret gambling syndicate won a $95 million Texas lottery by buying every number combination Legally clever or ethically shady?

[davidvel]

As an addendum, there’s already been a lawsuit filed by the guy who won the next jackpot, a paltry $7.5M, saying it would have been higher if not for this fraud. I can laugh about it all, because we don’t play the lottery.

Did he split with someone? Either way I see no fraud.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Did he split with someone? Either way I see no fraud.

Because there isn't any fraud. The winners won fair and square.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Because there isn't any fraud. The winners won fair and square.

Yep, the winners bought the winning ticket! There’s no dispute about that.

 

[WorldT]

This saga is going to drag on for sometime.
The lawsuit alleges certain actions of those who bought all the combinations and won big were illegal and thus their win (the number did match) should be invalidated and that amount added to his $7.5 M winning (there are different types of winnings with different amounts all tied to the same pot. Don't ask me, I don't play the lottery)
I think at this point that some elements of what took place has been referred to the FBI.
I bet more lawsuits will pop up with the hope that if the big win is invalidated, they may get something. Not sure how this will end up but the Texas show is just getting started.

 

[TolmiePeak]

This saga is going to drag on for sometime.
The lawsuit alleges certain actions of those who bought all the combinations and won big were illegal and thus their win (the number did match) should be invalidated and that amount added to his $7.5 M winning (there are different types of winnings with different amounts all tied to the same pot. Don't ask me, I don't play the lottery)
I think at this point that some elements of what took place has been referred to the FBI.
I bet more lawsuits will pop up with the hope that if the big win is invalidated, they may get something. Not sure how this will end up but the Texas show is just getting started.

What laws do they claim were broken?

 

[PigsDad]

What laws do they claim were broken?

The article that @TheHolleys87 posted above pointed out a few things that were done that could invalidate the winnings, depending on interpretation. This will go through the court systems for a decision.

Kurt

 

[pedro47]

Did these bad guys have other winning lottery tickets and how much did they win ?

 

[PigsDad]

Did these bad guys have other winning lottery tickets and how much did they win ?

Yes. Read the article @TheHolleys87 posted for details.

Kurt

 

[pedro47]

Yes. Read the article @TheHolleys87 posted for details.

Kurt

Could not open behind a pay wall

 

[TolmiePeak]

Did these bad guys have other winning lottery tickets and how much did they win ?

The bad guys are those who are grandstanding and complaining that some smart people followed the rules and won.

 

[rapmarks]

So the person who won 7.5 million is unhappy. His glass is half empty

 

[TheHolleys87]

Could not open behind a pay wall

Sorry, I guess the permission to open it expired. I’ll look for a better link.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Could not open behind a pay wall

Try this link and let me know if you can’t open it.

Confidential investigation reveals Lottery Commission's role in April 2023 jackpot scheme

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/texas-lottery-probe-details-lapses-helped-20324683.php

 

[pedro47]

Try this link and let me know if you can’t open it.

Confidential investigation reveals Lottery Commission's role in April 2023 jackpot scheme

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/texas-lottery-probe-details-lapses-helped-20324683.php

Thanks, TheHolleys87, I could read this article. IMHO, there was a huge Texas lottery violation and the Texas Lottery Commission should not have paid out the winnings to this group.
First, red flag, this group purchased 28 million dollars in the lottery numbers in less then 36 hours before the lottery drawing.
Second red flag, that the Texas Lottery Commission, should have caught 28 million dollars in lottery numbers spending. That were sold in only four (4) retailer affiliate with online ticket sales companies.
Third, red flag, no one was monitoring those four affiliate sales activities before the lottery drawing and no one check those four (4) retailer affiliate prior lottery sales.

 

[davidvel]

Thanks I could read this article. IMHO, there was a huge Texas lottery violation and the Texas Lottery Commission should not have paid out the winning to this group.
First, red flag, this group purchased 28 million dollars in the lottery numbers.

They don't seem like huge violations, just technical rules violations. No rule says you can't buy all the combinations. Another group could use a lot more people and achieve the same thing today, and it would all be kosher.

In actuality they were only able to buy 99% of the combos. Imagine the story if one of the ones they didn't buy had been drawn.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Thanks, TheHolleys87, I could read this article. IMHO, there was a huge Texas lottery violation and the Texas Lottery Commission should not have paid out the winnings to this group.
First, red flag, this group purchased 28 million dollars in the lottery numbers in less then 36 hours before the lottery drawing.
Second red flag, that the Texas Lottery Commission, should have caught 28 million dollars in lottery numbers spending. That were sold in only four (4) retailer affiliate with online ticket sales companies.
Third, red flag, no one was monitoring those four affiliate sales activities before the lottery drawing and no one check those four (4) retailer affiliate prior lottery sales.

Why is that a red flag? The more tickets that are sold is good for the state. They get 50 cents on the dollar. They don't care who wins. They only care about increasing the number of tickets sold.

 

[pedro47]

They don't seem like huge violations, just technical rules violations. No rule says you can't buy all the combinations. Another group could use a lot more people and achieve the same thing today, and it would all be kosher.

In actuality they were only able to buy 99% of the combos. Imagine the story if one of the ones they didn't buy had been drawn.

Can the Texas Lottery Commission cite any other retailer that sold that many lottery tickets in one or four locations by an online site?

 

[TolmiePeak]

Can the Texas Lottery Commission cite any other retailer that sold that many lottery tickets in one or four locations by an online site?

Why would the state care?

 

[pedro47]

Why would the state care?

Does the citizens of Texas need to know or care that their lottery employee run an honest lottery operations.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Does the citizens of Texas need to know or care that their lottery employee run an honest lottery operations.

What was dishonest about anything? They bought the tickets and paid for them generating millions in revenue for the state.

 

[davidvel]

Does the citizens of Texas need to know or care that their lottery employee run an honest lottery operations.

As I said the only true technical violation was to generate their own barcodes instead of through the app to allow them to purchase tickets faster. It's like saying someone that ran a stop sign to get to the doorbuster sale for the $50 big screen defrauded Best Buy and other shoppers. People seem to think buying all tickets and guaranteeing a win somehow violates the law and rules. It does not.

Anyone this month could employ a much larger army, using the app with hundreds of accounts, and buy all the tickets. Completely legal and good for the state.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Why doesn't the Texas lottery just allow you to buy one ticket with all the possible combinations. Would make things easier and generate way more money for the state.

 

[davidvel]

Why doesn't the Texas lottery just allow you to buy one ticket with all the possible combinations. Would make things easier and generate way more money for the state.

That is what I said many comments ago. Of course the trick only works if no one else does the same for most jackpots.