The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas has expressed strong opposition to online lottery courier services, claiming they represent an illegal expansion of gambling that's hurting tribal gaming revenues.

The tribe's Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel, located on their Eagle Pass reservation near the Rio Grande, operates as a class II gaming facility offering electronic bingo machines and poker.

In a letter to the Senate State Affairs committee, tribal general counsel Jason C. Nelson argued that lottery couriers aren't simply delivery services but rather provide comprehensive online gaming experiences that circumvent state laws. Nelson emphasized that each lottery ticket purchase essentially functions as a bet placement, with drawings serving as bet outcomes.

The issue gained attention after courier companies helped a gambling syndicate purchase all 25.8 million possible combinations for an April 2023 Texas Lottery draw, resulting in a $95 million jackpot win. While Texas prohibits online gambling and telephone lottery sales, courier services operate in a claimed legal loophole by positioning themselves as delivery services.

The tribe's concerns focus specifically on these courier services' impact on their gaming operations and their apparent circumvention of state gambling restrictions. While lottery couriers maintain their operations are legal, the Kickapoo Tribe argues these services effectively enable illegal internet gaming.

The Texas Legislature is expected to address this controversy during its 2025 session.

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