Austin Store Sells $83.5 Million Lotto Texas Winning Ticket Amid Controversy

AUSTIN, Texas — A recent Lotto Texas jackpot winner has emerged from Austin, claiming a substantial prize of $83.5 million in the drawing held on Monday night. The winning ticket was sold at Winners Corner TX LLC, located at 7817 Rockwood Lane, Suite 101B in North Austin.

The lucky numbers drawn were 19, 21, 25, 45, 47, and 52. This win marks the fifth largest Lotto Texas jackpot on record and the longest consecutive run without a winner, as the prize had been accumulating since June 2024.

Since the jackpot started at $75.5 million earlier in February, it has seen a steady increase, surpassing the prize amounts of other major lottery draws such as Mega Millions and Powerball. Texas Lottery draws occur at 10:12 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

In the wake of this significant win, questions have arisen regarding the legitimacy of the lottery system. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has launched an investigation into the Texas Lottery following the record-setting draw. Patrick’s scrutiny is directed particularly at the Winners Corner TX LLC, which has previously sold other winning tickets, including a $2 million Lotto ticket in December 2024 and a Texas Two-Step ticket worth over $2 million in March 2021.

The store operates as a lottery courier, a service that has been legal in Texas since 2019. Lottery couriers facilitate online ticket purchases, delivering tickets bought digitally to a designated retailer for physical purchase. Recent allegations involve concerns over potential ethical issues in the lottery system. As Patrick noted during a visit to the store, “Do you not see an issue where the public might lose confidence if the courier service somehow happened at this one location in the entire state of Texas sold an $83 million winning ticket?”

Furthermore, questions regarding the regulation of such transactions between couriers and the Texas Lottery Commission have surfaced. The commission has sought guidance from the Attorney General’s Office to determine its authority in overseeing these interactions. Additionally, there is an ongoing lawsuit involving former Lottery Commission Executive Director Gary Grief and a courier, accused of money laundering and fraud, which they both deny.

In a statement, Grief’s attorney emphasized his client’s integrity, saying, “Gary Grief served the Texas Lottery Commission as Executive Director for approximately 15 years. He is proud of what he and his dedicated staff accomplished during those years. Gary adamantly denies being part of any dishonest, fraudulent or illegal scheme during his tenure and looks forward to cooperating in any official inquiry addressing the allegations being made.”

As investigations continue, the Texas Lottery assures the public it has taken steps to address concerns and maintain the integrity of the lottery system. The focus remains on ensuring transparency and trust among the players as the future of Texas Lottery practices comes under scrutiny.