The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation proposes changes to the rules at 16 TAC, Chapter 140, Administration of Lottery and Charitable Bingo. The Department requests comments on the proposed rule changes and information related to the cost, benefit, or effect of the proposed rule changes, including any applicable data, research, or analysis.
What are the proposed rule changes?
The proposed rule changes:
- Prohibit a lottery retailer from selling more than 100 lottery tickets to one person in a single transaction;
- Require lottery tickets to be purchased in person at a licensed retail location during normal business hours and prohibit ticket purchases or sales through a telephone, Internet application, or mobile application;
- Require retailers to verify that each ticket purchaser is at least 18 years old by electronically reading the purchaser’s driver license, commercial driver license, or personal identification certificate, with visual inspection allowed when the electronic information cannot be read;
- Prohibit retailers from knowingly selling or allowing the sale of draw-game tickets to persons attempting to buy all or substantially all possible winning combinations, and provide for license revocation and a one-year waiting period before reapplying;
- Update the enforcement rules and Standard Penalty Chart to reflect the new sales requirements and prohibited conduct;
- Generally limit each licensed retail location to five traditional lottery terminals, while allowing additional terminals when approved for legitimate retail activity or temporary promotional events; and
- Remove a duplicate bingo advisory committee rule, update references to reflect the transfer of the Texas Lottery to TDLR, and make related cleanup changes.
When and where can I review the proposed rule changes?
The proposed rule changes will be published in the Proposed Rules section of the Texas Register on August 7, 2026. To locate these proposed rule changes on or after that date just follow these steps:
- Click this link to the Texas Register.
- Select html or pdf format for the “Current Issue” if the date shown is the date published, or under “Previous Issues” if more than a week has passed since publication. (The Texas Register is published each Friday.)
- Scroll down and click on “Proposed ”
- Look for the heading “Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation” and click the subheading “Administration of Texas Lottery and Charitable Bingo.”
How and where can I submit comments and information on the proposed rule changes?
Comments and information on the proposed rule changes may be submitted online; by facsimile to (512) 344-5189; or by mail to Dorota Bienkowska, Legal Assistant, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Lottery and Charitable Bingo Division, P.O. Box 16630, Austin, Texas 78761-6630.
Any information that is submitted must include an explanation of how and why the submitted information is specific to the proposed rule changes. Please do not submit copyrighted, confidential, or proprietary information.
The Department will accept comments and information on the proposed rule changes until September 8, 2026.