The Texas Lottery
Read the latest updates on news relating to the Texas lottery, gambling, lottery commission
The Texas Lottery
About This Ongoing Series
Formed in 1991, the Texas Lottery has long been a source of controversy. First, for not funding public education as promised, and later, for acting outside the intent of the law. Over the last decade, the Lottery Commission took actions that many have likened to a “money laundering operation.” In May 2025, the Lottery Commission was abolished by the Texas Legislature, with game oversight sent to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Exposed Podcast
Article Archive
Harris County Official Disputes $1 Billion Flood Bond Discrepancies
A Harris County official is pushing back against reports of a $1 billion discrepancy in flood bond funds, labeling the allegations as "inaccurate and based on misinterpretations of the content included in recent reports." Emily Woodell, Chief External Affairs Officer...
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Pushes for Taxpayer-Funded International Trips
Harris County Commissioners once again rejected a proposed overhaul to the county’s international travel policy—one closely tied to Democrat County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s recent trade mission to Paris. The vote ended in a 2–2 tie, effectively preserving the existing...
Harris County Flood Bond Reports Show Unexplained $1 Billion Discrepancy
Harris County’s Flood Control District is facing scrutiny after a local watchdog identified a billion-dollar discrepancy in the accounting of the 2018 flood bond program. Recent HCFCD financial reports appear to show a sudden drop of more than $1 billion in available...
Will San Antonio’s New Mayor Continue to Fund DEI Initiatives Amid Budget Crisis?
The recent inauguration of San Antonio’s liberal mayor Gina Ortiz Jones raises continued questions over city officials’ commitment to left-wing principles, even amid a budgetary crisis. A San Antonio City Council meeting on the budgetary priorities for 2026 and 2027...
Austin ISD Considers Consolidating Schools Amid Budget Shortfalls
Austin Independent School District trustees are considering merging several schools to reduce costs in the wake of budget shortfalls. During a board of trustees meeting Thursday, district leaders weighed community concerns and the economic benefits of consolidating...
House Lawmakers Pass Measure Creating Database for School Bond Projects
Lawmakers in the Texas House have approved the establishment of a database for information regarding current or future public school bond projects. Senate Bill 843, authored by State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham), passed with bipartisan support on Tuesday in a...
Fort Bend Municipal Utility District Reports $8.2 Million in Fraudulent Transfers
A Fort Bend County municipal utility district west of Houston is investigating over $8.2 million in unauthorized transfers from its investment account. The funds from MUD 35 were reportedly moved without board authorization on April 7, prompting immediate notification...
Melissa ISD Bond Election Offers 1.6B Examples of Why Voting Matters
It was not surprising that the two Melissa ISD bond packages passed. Equally unsurprising was the number of votes cast and, even more, the small number of voters who successfully committed their fellow citizens to a large amount—$1.6 billion—of new debt, a functional...
Hays CISD Is Asking Residents for Nearly $2 Billion in May Bond Election
Hays Consolidated Independent School District is pushing a bond proposal amounting to nearly $2 billion when all five propositions and interest are considered. The ballot propositions marketed by school district leaders independently and without interest total close...