Why did the Texas Lottery Commission initially refuse to pay Kristen Moriarty?
The commission refused to pay due to legal challenges and legislative changes regarding courier apps that allow people to play lottery games on their phones.
Finance / Lottery
After a six-month wait and a legal battle, a Texas woman, Kristen Moriarty, has finally received her $83 million lottery jackpot. The delay was due to challenges to Texas Lottery Commission rules and legislative changes regarding courier ap...
Kristen Moriarty purchased $20 worth of Lotto Texas tickets on Feb. 17 through a phone app. When she tried to collect the lump sum payout of nearly $46 million, the Texas Lottery Commission initially refused to pay, citing ongoing legislative changes related to courier apps. These apps allow individuals to play official state lottery games on their phones.
Attorney Randy Howry argued that the commission could not change the rules after the drawing. The Texas Legislature was in the process of criminalizing these courier apps, leading to the initial refusal to pay Moriarty her winnings.
Ultimately, the Texas Lottery Commission, with guidance from the Office of the Texas Attorney General, reached a settlement, and Moriarty received a single payment of $45,889,188.92 before taxes. The incident also draws attention to the upcoming changes to the Texas Lottery Commission, which is scheduled to be abolished on Sept. 1, with control transitioning to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The commission refused to pay due to legal challenges and legislative changes regarding courier apps that allow people to play lottery games on their phones.
Moriarty received a lump sum payment of $45,889,188.92 before taxes.
The Texas Lottery Commission is scheduled to be abolished on Sept. 1, with control of the lottery transitioning to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
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