AUSTIN, Texas — A Central Texas woman who won an $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot in February is now suing the acting deputy executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, claiming she hasn’t received her prize.

The woman, represented by Howry, Breen & Herman, LLP, filed the lawsuit after waiting three months without payment. Her attorneys stated, “When you win, the Lottery should pay you – not stall, not waffle, not haw, not try and change the rules and not try to back out of the deal.”

According to the lawsuit, she purchased the winning ticket through Jackpocket, a popular third-party courier app used for online lottery entries.

Just after the Feb. 17 drawing, the commission banned the use of third-party couriers in Texas. The move came under the direction of then-executive director Ryan Mindell, who later resigned in April amid growing scrutiny, as reported by The Texas Tribune.

The winner claims she reached out to both Mindell and the current deputy executive director, Sergio Rey, but has received no response. Her lawsuit alleges she’s now caught in a wave of “Texas political theater” that erupted after the drawing.

She’s asking the court to compel Rey to pay the full $83.5 million, arguing that both he and Mindell engaged in ultra vires acts—actions beyond their legal authority—by refusing to release the prize.

In addition to the jackpot, she is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Rey from disbursing or mismanaging the funds. She’s also requesting coverage for all legal fees tied to the case.

When asked for comment, the Texas Lottery Commission said it does not discuss ongoing litigation.

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