Eric Dexheimer

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Eric Dexheimer

In its eagerness to sell tickets, the Texas Lottery Commission allowed professional gamblers to skirt state rules when they purchased virtually every number combination of a Lotto Texas draw to ensure winning the $95 million jackpot, according to an internal investigation prepared by the agency. The examination confirms earlier reporting by the Houston Chronicle.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Eric Dexheimer

Ryan Mindell, the embattled executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, has resigned, according to a terse press release published on the agency’s website Monday afternoon. Mindell’s departure comes almost exactly one year to the day after he took over the top job at the agency, in the wake of the abrupt resignation of longtime director Gary Grief. Prior to that, Mindell, an attorney, had served as deputy executive director, operations director and assistant general counsel.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Eric Dexheimer

Edward Estrada’s client already had admitted to skimming — installing devices inside gas pumps to steal customers’ credit card information. But the Tyler lawyer wanted to make sure jurors understood that it didn’t rank with more serious financial crimes. As he prepared for the 2019 sentencing hearing, Estrada settled on a comparison. His client wasn’t nearly as bad as Enron, the giant Houston energy company whose executives misled investors for years, he stressed.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Eric Dexheimer

Like many regular lottery players, Jerry Reed played the same six numbers each time he bought his Lotto Texas ticket. On May 17, 2023, his persistence paid off. The ticket, purchased at One World Grocery in Mansfield, outside of Fort Worth, hit the jackpot. Reed chose to receive his winnings in annuitized payments over time, worth $7.5 million. Article continues below this adNow, however, Reed is claiming he is owed considerably more.

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Eric Dexheimer

State officials furious at the Texas Lottery Commission for the agency's role in helping a single player win a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot have proposed a number of fixes. One bill bans players from acquiring "substantially all winning combinations," as was done by an entity called Rook TX, which all but guaranteed itself the winning ticket in the April 22, 2023, draw by acquiring nearly all of the 25.8 million number configurations.