Texas Lottery to Pay $83M Jackpot After Months-Long Dispute

After months of controversy and legal hurdles, the Texas Lottery Commission has agreed to pay a Houston-area woman her long-delayed Lotto Texas jackpot. Kristen Moriarty, who won the $83.5 million prize in February 2025, is set to receive a lump sum payout of $45.8 million before taxes, finally bringing an end to one of the most talked-about disputes in the state’s lottery history.

A Win Caught in a Political Storm

Moriarty’s winning ticket was purchased through Jackpocket, a popular lottery courier app that buys physical tickets on behalf of players. Her numbers matched all six drawn on February 17, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Just one day after the draw, high-ranking state officials, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, began publicly questioning the legitimacy of ticket sales through courier services. A visit to the Austin store where Moriarty’s ticket was processed triggered a wave of scrutiny, with investigators from the Governor’s office, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s team, and the Department of Public Safety launching formal inquiries.

The backlash wasn’t entirely new. In 2023, a group named Rook TX used a similar courier model to flood the lottery system with nearly all possible combinations, resulting in a $58 million win. That incident had already left lawmakers uneasy about the growing influence and perceived loopholes of courier services.

Legislative Fallout and Legal Action

Moriarty found herself stuck in the middle of a broader legislative crackdown. When she tried to claim her prize in March, lottery officials declined, citing the ongoing investigations. She waited. By May, still unpaid, she filed a lawsuit against the commission’s director to assert her right to the winnings.

Meanwhile, Texas lawmakers passed bills aimed at dismantling the very systems that had allowed her to win. New laws banned courier services outright and prohibited bulk purchases of lottery tickets, moves directly targeting the kind of activity that had sparked the political firestorm.

Amid this regulatory shakeup, the Texas Lottery Commission itself was put on the chopping block. It’s scheduled to be dissolved on September 1, with its responsibilities, including oversight of the state lottery and charitable bingo games, shifting to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Settlement Reached Just Before Key Hearing

With a court hearing looming, a last-minute agreement was filed that cleared the way for Moriarty to receive her winnings. The deal, negotiated with input from the Attorney General’s office, confirmed she would be paid in full via a one-time payment, resolving the dispute outside of court.

According to state documents, the prize is now officially processed. While the Attorney General’s office declined to comment further, the lottery commission confirmed the case is closed.

What Comes Next for Texas Lottery Players?

The payout marks one of the final jackpot awards the Texas Lottery Commission will oversee before its operations are transferred. It also serves as a cautionary tale about how regulatory uncertainty can disrupt even the most straightforward wins.

For Moriarty, the money comes after months of stress and public attention. She had previously said she hoped to use the funds to support her family, honor her late husband, and fund causes close to her heart. Now, she can finally move forward with those plans, just in time for the next chapter in Texas’s shifting lottery landscape.

Editor’s Note:
While the lottery is often marketed as a state-run game of chance, it’s still considered a form of gambling. Like playing casino games, it involves risking money for the opportunity to win large prizes, and it’s regulated under similar laws in most jurisdictions.

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