XPost: alt.politics.republicans, sac.politics, talk.politics.guns   
   XPost: tx.politics   
   From: marmadukejinks99@gmail.com   
      
   On 02/05/2025 09:54, Cash & Carry wrote:   
   > Ryan Mindell announced his resignation as executive director of the Texas   
   > Lottery Commission (TLC) on Monday after the state-funded body was   
   > engulfed in a series of scandals.   
   >   
   > In 2023, a single buyer purchased around 25.8 million $1 Texas lottery   
   > tickets, nearly all there were, in order to secure a $95 million jackpot   
   > in what Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called "the biggest theft   
   > from the people of Texas in the history of Texas."   
   >   
   > The TLC told Newsweek it does not comment on personnel matters or have   
   > additional information beyond a statement released on Monday when   
   > contacted for comment.   
   >   
   > Why It Matters   
   > In recent years, the Texas Lottery has become embroiled in a number of   
   > scandals and is currently under investigation by the Texas Attorney   
   > General's Office and the Texas Rangers from the Department of Public   
   > Safety.   
   >   
   > What To Know   
   > On Monday in a statement, TLC Chairman Robert G. Rivera said that Mindell   
   > had "notified the Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation,   
   > effective today."   
   >   
   > Mindell served as executive director for exactly one year, following the   
   > resignation of his longstanding predecessor Gary Grief. He previously   
   > worked as deputy executive director, operations director and assistant   
   > general counsel for the TLC.   
   >   
   > In 2023, a $95 million jackpot was won by a consortium led by London-based   
   > trader Bernard Marantelli, which purchased nearly all of the 25.8 million   
   > possible number combinations at $1 per ticket.   
   >   
   > According to the Wall Street Journal, Marantelli and his associates   
   > obtained official ticket-printing terminals, which they operated around   
   > the clock to produce the requisite tickets.   
   >   
   > Lieutenant Governor Patrick described their win as "the biggest theft from   
   > the people of Texas in the history of Texas" though Marantelli's legal   
   > representative insisted that "all applicable laws, rules and regulations   
   > were followed."   
   >   
   > The Texas Lottery has also been criticized over the operation of ticket   
   > courier services, third-party companies that sell game tickets through   
   > smartphone apps.   
   >   
   > In March 2025, one woman, who said she had a $83.5 million winning Texas   
   > Lottery jackpot ticket, was told she wouldn't receive any money until the   
   > completion of separate investigations led by Attorney General Paxton and   
   > the Texas Rangers. It emerged her ticket had been purchased via an online   
   > courier app.   
   >   
   > Following criticism, the TLC changed its rules to ban bulk purchases from   
   > professional gamblers along with courier companies.   
   >   
   > The Texas Lottery, which was launched in 1992 with approval from the state   
   > legislature, says it has generated over $40 billion for the state   
   > government.   
   >   
   > Around $34 billion has gone to the Foundation School Fund, which supports   
   > public education in Texas, with funding also going to the Texas Veterans   
   > Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance, according to Texas Lottery.   
   >   
   > What People Are Saying   
   > In his statement, TLC Chairman Rivera said: "Ryan Mindell notified the   
   > Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation, effective today, April   
   > 21. Sergio Rey, the agency's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed   
   > Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery. The Commission   
   > board will consider its selection process for a new executive director at   
   > its next open meeting, scheduled for April 29."   
   >   
   > Speaking to the Austin American-Stateman, state Senator Bob Hall, a   
   > Republican, welcomed Mindell's resignation. He said: "I am in favor of   
   > doing anything that puts an end to lottery in Texas while we protect the   
   > money that was going to veterans."   
   >   
   > In a statement provided to Newsweek, the Coalition of Texas Lottery   
   > Couriers said: "Mindell's departure provides an opportunity to reconsider   
   > the agency's politically motivated decisions regarding lottery couriers   
   > and restart good faith collaboration between our companies and the TLC to   
   > establish a regulatory framework that protects the integrity of the Texas   
   > Lottery while also allowing our millions of Texas customers to continue to   
   > safely and conveniently order lottery tickets."   
   >   
   > What Happens Next   
   > The Texas Legislature has set the TLC's budget at $0 for two years   
   > beginning in September, a move that could well bankrupt the body unless a   
   > compromise is found. Investigations into the TLC from the Attorney   
   > General's Office and the Texas Rangers look set to continue.   
   >   
   > https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lottery-chief-resigns-after-biggest-   
   > theft-in-the-history-of-texas/ar-AA1DoYY0   
   >   
   It's not really a "theft".  The rules allowed them to print their own   
   tickets and they did it. They covered every combination and ran the risk   
   that another purchaser might have got the same numbers.  I admire their   
   chutzpah.   
      
   MJ   
      
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