The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas has criticized the Texas Lottery Commission for selling lottery tickets online through unlicensed courier firms. The Kickapoo Tribe has criticized the activities of these couriers, claiming that they violate Texas law and amount to an unregulated growth of gambling in the state, even though the Lottery Commission has maintained that it does not sell tickets online.
Kickapoo Tribe Calls for Ban on Lottery Couriers
In a letter to the Senate State Affairs Committee, the Kickapoo Tribe outlined its concerns regarding courier services’ online lottery sales, calling for a full prohibition of their operations. The Tribe argued that these services fall outside of Texas Lottery jurisdiction, meaning they either function as illegal sales agents or rely on official sales agents who work with them. Texas law, the Tribe pointed out, restricts lottery sales to official agents and their employees, meaning these couriers likely violate state gambling laws.
Moreover, the Tribe’s letter likened the lottery’s operation to a random number generator, describing it as similar to a real-time online game of chance. The Kickapoo Tribe warned that such activities resemble the mechanics of slot machines, which could effectively expand online gambling access within Texas.
The Tribe has expressed interest in applying for Class III gaming classification with federal authorities because it believes that the increasing use of courier services violates state gambling laws. The Kickapoo Tribe would be able to run full-fledged Las Vegas-style gaming with this categorization, moving beyond its present “bingo-type slot machines.” It is still unclear, though, if the Texas Legislature will take any action to authorize casinos before 2025. If the lottery’s operations are not subject to stricter regulations, the Kickapoo Tribe may proceed on its own to improve its gaming capabilities.
The Kickapoo’s lawsuit might lead to more examination of lottery ticket sales and the role of third-party couriers in Texas gambling laws, even if state analysts in Texas foresee limited legislative support for increased casino gambling in the near future.
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