Overview

• Ryan Mindell resigned as executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission effective April 21, 2025, with CFO Sergio Rey stepping in as acting deputy executive director.
• The resignation follows ongoing investigations by the Texas Rangers and Attorney General Ken Paxton into the commission's handling of courier services and a 2023 $95 million jackpot won through bulk ticket purchases.
• In 2023, a consortium exploited regulatory gaps to purchase nearly all possible ticket combinations, raising over $20 million in profit and sparking criticism of the commission’s oversight.
• The Texas House recently passed a budget with zero funding for the commission, potentially shuttering the agency unless funding is restored during upcoming negotiations with the Senate.
• The commission board plans to begin the process of selecting a permanent executive director at its April 29 meeting, as lawmakers weigh reforms, including a Senate-passed bill criminalizing courier services.