Texas Lottery Ban: A Missed Opportunity for Proper Regulation

OLIVER L. Author

Last Updated: June 10th, 2025

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After working in the gambling industry for over a decade, Oliver spotted an opportunity to setup a resource for lottery bettors. CompareTheLotto.com was founded in 2014 and launched a UK site firstly with a South African following shortly after and USA being launched in 2020.

Note: *The following article is purely for fun. It is based on individual opinions and does not constitute advice. The drawing of lottery numbers is entirely random. Please always gamble responsibly. #Ad. Find out more on our How Our Site Works page.

The Texas Legislature’s ban on lottery couriers has now officially forced Lotto.com to exit the state, cutting off thousands of Texans from a convenient way to play the lottery online. While the decision aimed to tighten regulations and stop shadowy syndicates, it has ultimately punished everyday players rather than addressing the deeper flaws in the system. The departure of Lotto.com follows other major players such as Jackpocket.com and Jackpot.com.

The Dawn Nettles Revelation

Lottery blogger Dawn Nettles, known for her relentless scrutiny of the Texas Lottery, has gained renewed attention—potentially even securing a documentary deal about this (We’ll update further if we hear more on this). Through her website, Texas Lotto Report, Nettles has previously complained about loopholes that could potentially allow syndicates to manipulate the system. While her efforts have exposed flaws, the recent ban has removed a convenient option for players without fully addressing the underlying issues.

How Big Money Exploited the System

The syndicate suspected of manipulating the Texas Lottery allegedly used courier services to buy up nearly all possible number combinations in certain jackpot draws. By leveraging third-party apps and retailers, they ensured that 99.4% of all possible lottery combinations were purchased, drastically increasing their chances of winning. This strategy, while technically legal, undermined the fairness of the lottery, making it less about chance and more about financial power. Reporting from Houston Chronicle writer Eric Dexheimer, divulged that a London betting operation and a Malta based syndicate were the likely beneficiaries of the Jackpot profits ($57 million after taxes).

The Dallas Morning News reported the potentially coincidental (you can decide) naming of the East Coast company ‘Rook TX’ that were recipients of the winnings... One of the definitions of rook is to swindle or cheat.

The Real Loss for Texans

With lottery courier services shut down, ordinary Texans are the ones who have lost out—especially those in rural areas, people with mobility challenges, and those who prefer digital convenience. The ban not only limits participation but also raises concerns about its impact on good cause contributions, as fewer players may engage with the lottery system.

CompareTheLotto.com Perspective: Regulation, Not Bans

Rather than outright banning courier services, CompareTheLotto believes Texas should have properly regulated them to ensure syndicates couldn’t exploit loopholes. By implementing strict purchase limits, transparency requirements, and monitoring mechanisms, lawmakers could have protected both individual players and the integrity of the lottery. Instead, the ban has removed access for legitimate players while failing to fully address the root cause of the issue.

ComparetheLotto.com Lotto Expert Oliver Liebscher says: ‘As we’ve said before on this - we believe the right course of action is to address the root problems with effective regulation, don’t punish players and good causes. Whilst we completely understand the need to protect against this type of loophole being exploited, we don’t believe banning online play is the right course of action’

What’s Next?

With couriers gone and digital lottery options restricted, Texas faces an uncertain future in online lottery play. Will lawmakers reconsider alternative solutions - like opening up online directly? Will Nettles’ documentary uncover deeper flaws in the system? One thing remains clear— as we’ve said before, it’s often the ordinary lottery playing folk who lose out.