Lotto.com expected to win lawsuit against Texas Lottery Commission
Online lottery courier company Lotto.com is expected to win its case against the Texas Lottery Commission.
State District Judge Sherine Thomas issued her first ruling in a case brought by Lotto.com that seeks to block the Texas Lottery Commission from enforcing a new anti-lottery courier rule.
The rule, adopted last month, stated that the regulator had the power to revoke the license of any lottery retailer doing business with couriers. However, Judge Sherine Thomas issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the rule’s enforcement.
The restraining order states that the Texas Lottery Commission cannot seize any lottery terminals belonging to Lotto.com or take other enforcement action. While this ruling cannot be seen as a final judgment, the order also indicates that Lotto.com is likely to win its case.
Lottery couriers are third-party operators that resell lottery tickets. Until this year, the position of the Texas Lottery Commission was that they could not take action against lottery couriers, but that changed following pressure from state legislators.
The Texas lottery currently generates about US$8 billion in annual sales and makes a profit of about US$2 billion, but one recent bill (Senate Bill 1988) has proposed abolishing the lottery altogether.
Meanwhile, legislation making lottery couriers illegal is currently under discussion in the Texas legislature. A hearing on the Lotto.com case is set for 27 May.
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