The Future of The Texas Lottery Is In Doubt, Here’s What We Know

Is this the end of the road for the Texas Lottery?

Some Texas lawmakers are starting to see blood in water around the Lottery in Texas and are ready to get rid of the lotto all together. And with just a few weeks left in the Texas Legislative Session, lawmakers in Texas still haven't put any money towards the lottery budget.

Investigations and Scandals Plague The Texas Lottery

As the Dallas Morning News reports, some Republican lawmakers have always wanted to get rid of the Texas Lottery and now with the scandals and investigations taking place, many lawmakers feel as though now is the perfect time to do away with the Texas Lottery.

Currently the Texas Rangers and the Texas Attorney General's office is investigating potential crimes connected to two multimillion dollar jackpots. Investigators are still looking into whether lottery officials broke Texas law by allowing "couriers" to take online ticket orders for lottery tickets.

Currently the Lottery Commission is under "sunset review" and is set to expire at the end of August. If lawmakers don't extend and fund the lottery, it will expire.

What Happens if the Texas Lottery Ends?

The end of the Texas Lottery would mean the legislature would have to look to other places for money for education and veterans. According to the Dallas Morning News, since 1997 the Lottery has provided $34 billion to education.

Since 1997, the lottery has provided $34 billion to public schools, including $2 billion in 2024. It has generated $267 million for veterans since 2010.

The end of the Texas Lottery would probably mean casino gambling and sports betting in Texas are very doubtful to happen anytime soon.

Texas State Senator Bob Hall told the Dallas Morning News that government should not be in the gambling business. The Lt. Governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, has not committed to bringing back the lottery and Governor Greg Abbott hasn't commented either way.