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Ryan Mindell announced his resignation as executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) on Monday after the state-funded body was
engulfed in a series of scandals.

In 2023, a single buyer purchased around 25.8 million $1 Texas lottery
tickets, nearly all there were, in order to secure a $95 million jackpot
in what Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called "the biggest theft
from the people of Texas in the history of Texas."

The TLC told Newsweek it does not comment on personnel matters or have additional information beyond a statement released on Monday when
contacted for comment.

Why It Matters
In recent years, the Texas Lottery has become embroiled in a number of
scandals and is currently under investigation by the Texas Attorney
General's Office and the Texas Rangers from the Department of Public
Safety.

What To Know
On Monday in a statement, TLC Chairman Robert G. Rivera said that Mindell
had "notified the Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation,
effective today."

Mindell served as executive director for exactly one year, following the resignation of his longstanding predecessor Gary Grief. He previously
worked as deputy executive director, operations director and assistant
general counsel for the TLC.

In 2023, a $95 million jackpot was won by a consortium led by London-based trader Bernard Marantelli, which purchased nearly all of the 25.8 million possible number combinations at $1 per ticket.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Marantelli and his associates
obtained official ticket-printing terminals, which they operated around
the clock to produce the requisite tickets.

Lieutenant Governor Patrick described their win as "the biggest theft from
the people of Texas in the history of Texas" though Marantelli's legal representative insisted that "all applicable laws, rules and regulations
were followed."

The Texas Lottery has also been criticized over the operation of ticket
courier services, third-party companies that sell game tickets through smartphone apps.

In March 2025, one woman, who said she had a $83.5 million winning Texas Lottery jackpot ticket, was told she wouldn't receive any money until the completion of separate investigations led by Attorney General Paxton and
the Texas Rangers. It emerged her ticket had been purchased via an online courier app.

Following criticism, the TLC changed its rules to ban bulk purchases from professional gamblers along with courier companies.

The Texas Lottery, which was launched in 1992 with approval from the state legislature, says it has generated over $40 billion for the state
government.

Around $34 billion has gone to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas, with funding also going to the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance, according to Texas Lottery.

What People Are Saying
In his statement, TLC Chairman Rivera said: "Ryan Mindell notified the
Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation, effective today, April
21. Sergio Rey, the agency's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed
Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery. The Commission
board will consider its selection process for a new executive director at
its next open meeting, scheduled for April 29."

Speaking to the Austin American-Stateman, state Senator Bob Hall, a
Republican, welcomed Mindell's resignation. He said: "I am in favor of
doing anything that puts an end to lottery in Texas while we protect the
money that was going to veterans."

In a statement provided to Newsweek, the Coalition of Texas Lottery
Couriers said: "Mindell's departure provides an opportunity to reconsider
the agency's politically motivated decisions regarding lottery couriers
and restart good faith collaboration between our companies and the TLC to establish a regulatory framework that protects the integrity of the Texas Lottery while also allowing our millions of Texas customers to continue to safely and conveniently order lottery tickets."

What Happens Next
The Texas Legislature has set the TLC's budget at $0 for two years
beginning in September, a move that could well bankrupt the body unless a compromise is found. Investigations into the TLC from the Attorney
General's Office and the Texas Rangers look set to continue.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lottery-chief-resigns-after-biggest- theft-in-the-history-of-texas/ar-AA1DoYY0

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