Some legislators are pushing to eliminate the Texas Lottery amid questions about its management and multiple criminal investigations.
What started as concerns over whether lottery officials violated Texas law by allowing couriers to take online ticket orders has ballooned into the Texas Rangers and Attorney General Ken Paxton investigating potential crimes related to two multimillion dollar jackpots.
The controversy has put the lottery in limbo. With weeks left in the legislative session, lawmakers haven’t budgeted funds for the agency that operates it.
Bills to eliminate the lottery may not be necessary. The Lottery Commission is under its 12-year systematic evaluation and will expire Aug. 31 without reauthorization from the Legislature.
