A February jackpot remains unpaid, and the anonymous winner says the Texas Lottery Commission is breaking its own rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Feb.\u202f17 an Austin resident matched all six numbers to land an $83.5\u202fmillion Lotto Texas prize. Yet three months later, the money is still in limbo. The winner\u2014identified only as Ms.\u202fDoe\u2014filed suit May\u202f21 accusing the commission and acting deputy executive director Sergio\u202fRey of illegally withholding her check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the 15\u2011page complaint, Ms.\u202fDoe bought her ticket through Jackpocket, a phone app that dispatches couriers to licensed retailers. After presenting the physical ticket on March\u202f18, commission staff confirmed she was the \u201clawful bearer\u201d under Texas Government Code \u00a7\u202f466.4001. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So why hasn\u2019t she been paid? The filing blames behind\u2011the\u2011scenes pressure from elected officials and calls the delay \u201can ex post facto punishment.\u201d \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t take a lawsuit to get paid,\u201d her attorneys argue. Before we go further, here\u2019s a quick timeline of the dispute:<\/p>\n\n\n\n