Texas Lottery executive director resigns amid controversy

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Ryan Mindell, the executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission, resigned from his position on Monday, according to a statement from commission Chair Robert G. Rivera.

Mindell started with the TLC in August 2016 as deputy general counsel. He stayed with the agency and eventually became the executive director following the retirement of Gary Grief — who was accused of conspiring with lottery courier services, which allow people to buy lottery tickets over the phone and foreign investors to defraud Texas lottery players.

Mindell has faced mounting criticism during the current legislative session from lawmakers who feel the agency failed in maintaining the integrity of the Texas lottery. In February, Mindell banned lottery courier services, and the commission is currently considering rule changes that will immediately revoke the lottery license of any retailer who conducts business with a lottery courier.

Controversy surrounding an April 2023 $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot win, where a single group was able to purchase more than $25 million of tickets to nearly guarantee a jackpot win, moved Texas senators to unanimously criminalize courier systems. Shortly following, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate two incidents within the Texas Lottery.

Sergio Rey, the CFO of the commission, will serve as the acting deputy executive director for the time being, and then the commission will consider its process of selecting a new director at its April 29 meeting, according to Rivera’s statement.

Nexstar reached out to the Lottery Commission last week asking if Mindell had resigned from his position, and a spokesperson for the TLC said, “Ryan Mindell is the executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission.”