(Texas Scorecard) – Ryan Mindell has resigned as Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission, marking an unexpected turn in a closely watched struggle at the agency.
Mindell, who has been the subject of intense scrutiny from lawmakers and the media, was spared from being fired by the remaining members of the Lottery Commission in early March.
The resignation comes one day after a New York Times exposé on the commission and its significant role in the rigging of an April 2023 jackpot of $95 million that has been the subject of ongoing reporting and investigation.
For years, under the leadership of former Executive Director Gary Grief, the commission allowed lottery ticket resellers—third-party companies that purchase lottery tickets on behalf of customers—to operate in Texas.
This practice came under fire after investigations revealed that couriers had facilitated bulk purchases leading to massive jackpot wins, including the $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot in April 2023 and an $83.5 million win in early 2025.
After the $83.5 million win, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick conducted an impromptu visit to a lottery ticket vendor, Winners Corner, in February. The integrity of the lottery was questioned, with allegations that the system allowed a small number of players—sometimes out-of-state or foreign entities—to nearly guarantee a win by buying nearly every possible number combination.
Mindell’s resignation comes after he faced hours of questioning in both Senate and House hearings, where lawmakers expressed frustration with his evasive answers and the agency’s lack of transparency. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D–Houston), reflecting public sentiment, told Mindell, “You’re taking the public money, and you’re letting a few people come in and scam the public. You know, normally … we’d put them in prison. I lost money, and I want my money back.”
Despite distancing himself from his former boss, documents revealed that Mindell—while not a signatory to key courier authorization letters—told Jackpocket in 2018 it did not require a license to operate in Texas, a decision now widely criticized for enabling unregulated online lottery sales.
The scandals prompted multiple investigations. Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to probe the suspicious jackpot wins and the commission’s handling of these reseller services. Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched his own investigation into the agency.
Despite mounting pressure, the commission initially declined to remove Mindell. The agency’s continued resistance to transparency, such as withholding details about a $1 million payout to an anonymous claimant in China, has only deepened public mistrust.
In a statement issued Monday by Commission Chairman Robert Rivera, the agency said, “Ryan Mindell notified the Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation, effective today, April 21. Sergio Rey, the agency’s Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery. The Commission board will consider its selection process for a new executive director at its next open meeting, scheduled for April 29.”
Funding for the Texas Lottery has been zeroed out in the House version of the state’s biennial budget.