Urge Governor Abbott to recover stolen Texas lottery funds
The Issue
On April 22, 2023, the Lotto Texas $95 million jackpot was manipulated and allegedly stolen by a coordinated group of international fraudsters. Using what has been called improperly placed lottery terminals and an unauthorized sophisticated QR code software reportedly imported from Malta, these fraudsters, with the knowledge of high ranking officials in the Texas Lottery Commission, managed to rig a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot. Despite the long-standing rule that all Texas Lottery Terminals must be installed in bricks and mortar businesses open to the general public and selling things other than lottery tickets, the Lotto Texas jackpot scheme involved close to 60 lottery terminals delivered and installed by IGT in locations not open to the public and not selling things other than lottery tickets in the 24 hour 3-day scheme,. This isn’t just about the state's resources being misused—it’s money taken from Texas citizens fraudulently, hard-earned money from every ticket purchased in the stolen Lotto Texas April 2023 game by honest Texans hoping for a chance at a better life.
The depth of this conspiracy was staggering. Dubbed by Lt. Governor Patrick as being part of the (the lottery) largest money-laundering scheme in the country, nearly $50 million of invalidly awarded prize money was wrongfully wired to a Swiss bank account in June 2023 by the Texas Lottery Commission. This was money that came out of the pockets of hard working, often low-income, Texas citizens who had played the Lotto Texas lottery game for 7-months, building the jackpot as they dreamed of winning it big. This jackpot theft exposes significant vulnerabilities within the systems designed to protect our financial interests and calls into question the oversight responsibilities of our state institutions when it comes to lottery play and holding those who do wrong accountable.
The magnitude of this alleged crime demands prompt and decisive action. These improperly awarded funds must be recovered to restore trust in the state’s lottery and financial institutions. We stand at a critical juncture where the integrity of our lottery systems is at stake, and without timely intervention, this can set a dangerous precedent for future exploitation.
Our appeal is straightforward. We urge Governor Abbott to press the Texas Attorney General into action—specifically, to file lawsuits against those involved in this travesty and to file criminal charges against all those who broke the law of Texas in this scheme. The aim is to recoup the millions stolen and bring those culpable to justice. It's not just about recovering funds; it’s about ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice for Texas citizens.
The international backed entity that claimed the stolen jackpot, Rook TX, should be sued and Texas should demand the funds be returned to the State of Texas f they won't do so voluntarily. Every ticket printed was invalid under Texas rule, as electronic devices where connected to the lottery terminals in unauthorized ways. The tens of millions of dollars wired to a Swiss bank account when the invalid lottery tickets were redeemed needs to be repatriated to Texas.
The 4 couriers who worked together in a unified and planned mission to print close to 33 million lottery tickets (including 99.3% of all possible combinations in for the Lotto Texas 4/22/23 drawing) using unauthorized QR code software connected to Texas Lottery terminals should be sued to recoup the over $1 million in commissions they were paid by the State of Texas to print the invalid tickets f they won't do so voluntarily. They should have to refund the commissions they earned by helping to print 33 million invalid tickets in violation of the rules and laws of Texas. Texas regulations state that no unauthorized electronic devices, wirelessly or directly, shall be connected to Texas lottery terminals or tickets printed are invalid. The Texas Lottery Commission came out and said the use of the QR code system in the Lotto Texas April 2023 drawing was not authorized and was not permitted - thus every ticket printed was invalid. No commissions should have been paid - no jackpot should have been awarded - no ticket fees should have been paid to Texas as every ticket printed was invalid by rule.
On April 19, 2023, documents reveal the bulk of the lottery terminals needed to pull off the Lotto Texas scheme were ordered, and on April 20, 2023 IGT delivered and installed those lottery terminals used to pull off the Lotto Texas, April 22, 2023 scheme, each terminal installed in ways not allowed by Texas rules and regulations. IGT admittedly serviced some of those terminals while the scheme was ongoing, witnessing the phones flashing QR codes into the Texas Lottery terminals as the scheme unfolded printing over 100 tickets per second for close to 72-straight hours. IGT earned commissions of over $500,000 on the invalid ticket printing scheme and they should be sued to return that money to the State of Texas if they won't do so voluntarily..
The State of Texas Comptroller took in over $30,000,000.00 from the international syndicate that was behind Rook TX. Those funds, used to purchase the invalid lottery tickets, should be set aside until it is determined where they came from and if the money used to purchase them was actually laundered as has been inferred.
It is a felony in the State of Texas to alter a game of chance, and to conspire to alter a game of chance. Any party involved in the Lotto Texas April 2023 scheme that broke the law should be charged with a crime by the Texas Attorney General Office, and we hope Governor Abbott will request the Attorney General to do so. A conspiracy involves more than one party - and under Texas law those who participated in the conspiracy need to be held accountable.
Imagine the many Texans who could have been benefitted by this jackpot—a student paying for higher education, a family securing their first home, or a community member investing in local infrastructure. Every day that passes without action further impacts the lives of fellow Texans. Money earmarked for Texas schools that is derived from lottery proceeds was redirected to the fraudsters when estimated jackpot forms where overstated and signed off on by Texas Lottery officials just hours before the April 22, 2023 drawing. To date, there has been one indictment related to this event, former Texas Lottery Director Gary Grief - who has publicly claimed innocence through his criminal defense attorney.
We are a community bonded in resilience, and we will not rest until justice is served. Join us in this call for accountability. Let us ensure that the voices of Texan citizens are heard loud and clear. Sign this petition to stand with us, urging our leaders to act decisively and swiftly in recovering the lottery jackpot proceeds allegedly stolen from Texas citizens on April 22, 2023 and restoring the trust of the people.
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The Issue
On April 22, 2023, the Lotto Texas $95 million jackpot was manipulated and allegedly stolen by a coordinated group of international fraudsters. Using what has been called improperly placed lottery terminals and an unauthorized sophisticated QR code software reportedly imported from Malta, these fraudsters, with the knowledge of high ranking officials in the Texas Lottery Commission, managed to rig a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot. Despite the long-standing rule that all Texas Lottery Terminals must be installed in bricks and mortar businesses open to the general public and selling things other than lottery tickets, the Lotto Texas jackpot scheme involved close to 60 lottery terminals delivered and installed by IGT in locations not open to the public and not selling things other than lottery tickets in the 24 hour 3-day scheme,. This isn’t just about the state's resources being misused—it’s money taken from Texas citizens fraudulently, hard-earned money from every ticket purchased in the stolen Lotto Texas April 2023 game by honest Texans hoping for a chance at a better life.
The depth of this conspiracy was staggering. Dubbed by Lt. Governor Patrick as being part of the (the lottery) largest money-laundering scheme in the country, nearly $50 million of invalidly awarded prize money was wrongfully wired to a Swiss bank account in June 2023 by the Texas Lottery Commission. This was money that came out of the pockets of hard working, often low-income, Texas citizens who had played the Lotto Texas lottery game for 7-months, building the jackpot as they dreamed of winning it big. This jackpot theft exposes significant vulnerabilities within the systems designed to protect our financial interests and calls into question the oversight responsibilities of our state institutions when it comes to lottery play and holding those who do wrong accountable.
The magnitude of this alleged crime demands prompt and decisive action. These improperly awarded funds must be recovered to restore trust in the state’s lottery and financial institutions. We stand at a critical juncture where the integrity of our lottery systems is at stake, and without timely intervention, this can set a dangerous precedent for future exploitation.
Our appeal is straightforward. We urge Governor Abbott to press the Texas Attorney General into action—specifically, to file lawsuits against those involved in this travesty and to file criminal charges against all those who broke the law of Texas in this scheme. The aim is to recoup the millions stolen and bring those culpable to justice. It's not just about recovering funds; it’s about ensuring transparency, accountability, and justice for Texas citizens.
The international backed entity that claimed the stolen jackpot, Rook TX, should be sued and Texas should demand the funds be returned to the State of Texas f they won't do so voluntarily. Every ticket printed was invalid under Texas rule, as electronic devices where connected to the lottery terminals in unauthorized ways. The tens of millions of dollars wired to a Swiss bank account when the invalid lottery tickets were redeemed needs to be repatriated to Texas.
The 4 couriers who worked together in a unified and planned mission to print close to 33 million lottery tickets (including 99.3% of all possible combinations in for the Lotto Texas 4/22/23 drawing) using unauthorized QR code software connected to Texas Lottery terminals should be sued to recoup the over $1 million in commissions they were paid by the State of Texas to print the invalid tickets f they won't do so voluntarily. They should have to refund the commissions they earned by helping to print 33 million invalid tickets in violation of the rules and laws of Texas. Texas regulations state that no unauthorized electronic devices, wirelessly or directly, shall be connected to Texas lottery terminals or tickets printed are invalid. The Texas Lottery Commission came out and said the use of the QR code system in the Lotto Texas April 2023 drawing was not authorized and was not permitted - thus every ticket printed was invalid. No commissions should have been paid - no jackpot should have been awarded - no ticket fees should have been paid to Texas as every ticket printed was invalid by rule.
On April 19, 2023, documents reveal the bulk of the lottery terminals needed to pull off the Lotto Texas scheme were ordered, and on April 20, 2023 IGT delivered and installed those lottery terminals used to pull off the Lotto Texas, April 22, 2023 scheme, each terminal installed in ways not allowed by Texas rules and regulations. IGT admittedly serviced some of those terminals while the scheme was ongoing, witnessing the phones flashing QR codes into the Texas Lottery terminals as the scheme unfolded printing over 100 tickets per second for close to 72-straight hours. IGT earned commissions of over $500,000 on the invalid ticket printing scheme and they should be sued to return that money to the State of Texas if they won't do so voluntarily..
The State of Texas Comptroller took in over $30,000,000.00 from the international syndicate that was behind Rook TX. Those funds, used to purchase the invalid lottery tickets, should be set aside until it is determined where they came from and if the money used to purchase them was actually laundered as has been inferred.
It is a felony in the State of Texas to alter a game of chance, and to conspire to alter a game of chance. Any party involved in the Lotto Texas April 2023 scheme that broke the law should be charged with a crime by the Texas Attorney General Office, and we hope Governor Abbott will request the Attorney General to do so. A conspiracy involves more than one party - and under Texas law those who participated in the conspiracy need to be held accountable.
Imagine the many Texans who could have been benefitted by this jackpot—a student paying for higher education, a family securing their first home, or a community member investing in local infrastructure. Every day that passes without action further impacts the lives of fellow Texans. Money earmarked for Texas schools that is derived from lottery proceeds was redirected to the fraudsters when estimated jackpot forms where overstated and signed off on by Texas Lottery officials just hours before the April 22, 2023 drawing. To date, there has been one indictment related to this event, former Texas Lottery Director Gary Grief - who has publicly claimed innocence through his criminal defense attorney.
We are a community bonded in resilience, and we will not rest until justice is served. Join us in this call for accountability. Let us ensure that the voices of Texan citizens are heard loud and clear. Sign this petition to stand with us, urging our leaders to act decisively and swiftly in recovering the lottery jackpot proceeds allegedly stolen from Texas citizens on April 22, 2023 and restoring the trust of the people.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on July 22, 2026