The $95m question: What led to the Texas Lottery director’s resignation?
The Texas Lottery Commission is facing a storm of controversy after the abrupt resignation of its executive director, Ryan Mindell, amid a growing scandal tied to a staggering $95 million jackpot.
The jackpot that changed everything
At the heart of the controversy is a high-stakes syndicate led by London-based trader Bernard Marantelli. The group reportedly managed to snap up all 25.8 million possible $1 ticket combinations for a 2023 lottery draw, essentially guaranteeing themselves the jackpot.
Their strategy? Using official printing terminals running non-stop to generate every number combination. It was a legal move, but one that has since been slammed by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick as “the biggest theft in Texas history”, even though, technically, no rules were broken.
The scheme first came to light through a Houston Chronicle exposé, but what really turned heads was a separate $83.5 million win. That prize was claimed via a ticket bought through a courier service, triggering a wave of public outrage and political concern.
Governor Greg Abbott wasted no time, directing the Texas Rangers to dig into the matter, with Attorney General Ken Paxton soon launching his own inquiry. As the scandal grew, Mindell’s role became increasingly difficult to defend.
Political backlash and a budget freeze
Mindell didn’t step down in isolation. Confidence in the Commission has been steadily eroding, and legislators are making their frustrations known. In an unprecedented move, the Texas Legislature responded by zeroing out the agency’s budget for the next two years, a clear message that reform is non-negotiable.
A lot of the heat has landed on the use of third-party courier services, which make it possible to buy tickets online, effectively sidestepping Texas’ rule that lottery purchases must happen in person. Critics say this loophole may have cracked the door open for exploitation.
Among the most vocal is State Senator Bob Hall, who hasn’t minced words. He’s accused the Commission of, at best, willful ignorance, and at worst, helping to grease the wheels of a scheme that should never have been possible in the first place. “At best, the commissioners were willfully negligent,” Hall said. “At worst, they helped orchestrate the biggest financial con since Enron.”
In an interview, Hall didn’t mince words: “No outsider could have pulled this off without inside help, someone changed the rules, handed over the equipment, and let the whole thing slide.”
The past decade has seen the Commission quietly easing restrictions, introducing electronic sales, allowing 24/7 ticket purchases, and giving courier services the green light. Lawmakers now say those decisions set the stage for the 2023 jackpot scheme.
Resignation: Guilt or just bad timing?
There’s been no solid evidence linking Mindell directly to the scandal. So far, neither he nor the Commission has offered a detailed explanation for his resignation, and he’s stayed silent publicly.
Even so, the timing raises eyebrows. His resignation came just a day after major outlets like aired reports and footage that put the Commission’s actions under a harsh spotlight. It doesn’t take much to connect the dots, whether or not he was involved, the pressure may have simply become too much to withstand.
In the aftermath, the Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers issued a statement defending its members and distancing them from the uproar. “Mindell consistently denied the agency had authority over couriers,” the statement read, “even though we repeatedly asked to be regulated, as we are in other states. Under his leadership, couriers became the scapegoats for the agency’s own failings.”
What’s next for the Texas Lottery?
The future of the Texas Lottery Commission is up in the air. Investigations are still underway, and lawmakers are now openly debating whether the agency, as it exists today, should continue at all.
For now, Acting Deputy Executive Director Sergio Rey, who also serves as Chief Financial Officer, has stepped in to lead the agency. Chairman Robert G. Rivera confirmed the transition, saying, “Ryan Mindell informed the board of his resignation, effective immediately. The board will discuss the next steps for appointing a new executive director at our upcoming open meeting on April 29.”
