Texas retiree wins $83M lottery jackpot but state refuses to pay because of new law

An 83-year-old Texas woman believed her life had changed forever when she hit the jackpot in the Lotto Texas draw earlier this year. But just days after the win, the payout vanished as a result of a sudden rule change that blindsided her and many other lottery players.

Now, she’s taking the state to court to claim the $83.5 million she says is rightfully hers.

Bought the ticket, hit the jackpot, but no check in sight

The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous and is identified in legal documents as ‘Jane Doe,’ purchased her winning numbers for the February 17, 2025 drawing using the Jackpocket app, a popular service that lets users buy lottery tickets online.

Instead of making a trip to the corner store, the woman simply placed her order through the app. And it paid off big time. She matched all the numbers and won the $83.5 million jackpot.

But her celebration didn’t last long. As she waited for her winnings to come through, she received news that stunned her: the Texas Lottery Commission was refusing to pay.

The rule change that cost millions

One week after the woman’s lucky numbers were drawn, the Texas Lottery announced it was banning the use of third-party apps like Jackpocket to purchase tickets, citing a lack of regulation. The apps had previously allowed Texans to order official lottery tickets online from licensed retailers, but without clear oversight or fee rules from the state.

Her legal team argues that this new policy is being applied retroactively to block her payout, even though her ticket was bought legally before the ban was announced. In a lawsuit filed May 19, her lawyers say the commission can’t simply change the rules after the fact to avoid paying out a legitimate jackpot.

Millions on the line, and a legal battle ahead

For now, the woman remains in legal limbo, with tens of millions of dollars hanging in the balance. The case is expected to take months, possibly longer, to resolve.

Her attorneys are adamant: she followed every rule that existed at the time, and the state is trying to rewrite history to dodge a massive payout. The story has sparked renewed debate over whether Americans can trust third-party lottery apps, and whether state lotteries are keeping up with the way people play today.

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