Mon Feb 24 20:40:00 UTC 2025: **Texas Lottery Commissioner Resigns Amidst Lawmaker Scrutiny of Courier Practices**

Austin, TX – Texas Lottery Commissioner Clark Smith has resigned, effective Friday, following intense questioning from state lawmakers regarding the use of lottery couriers. Smith’s resignation comes just over a week after he and other commission officials faced grilling at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

Lawmakers voiced serious concerns about courier services, third-party companies that allow individuals to purchase lottery tickets online or through apps. The concern centers around a $95 million jackpot won by several companies, including a courier service, which printed nearly every possible ticket combination. Senators expressed worries that couriers could be exploited for illegal activity, such as facilitating purchases by out-of-state residents or minors.

While the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) stated it lacked legal precedent to regulate couriers, it acknowledged correcting other issues that allowed the companies to print over 25 million tickets for the winning combination. A subsequent $83.5 million jackpot, also won using a courier, further fueled Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s concerns, prompting him to publicly question the practice.

Smith’s resignation follows the departure of former Executive Director Gary Grief in 2024, who has since faced allegations of fraud and recklessness related to the oversight of courier operations. A lawsuit filed against Grief in February alleges he intentionally assisted courier companies.

A bill to ban the use of lottery couriers is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, and the TLC itself will be discussed in a Texas House Appropriations Committee meeting tomorrow. Smith, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in late 2023, was expected to serve until 2029. The commission now operates with four members.

Read More