The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commission voted to extend the existing lottery operator services contract for two years, as allowed by statute, and approved two-year renewals of key promotional agreements that support scratch-ticket and engagement activity.

Nicole Loria, transition special counsel, told commissioners that the two-year contractual extension (covering 09/01/2026 through 08/31/2028) is intended to give TDLR staff time to prepare and execute a new request for proposals (RFP) for operator services while preserving promotional and operational continuity. Commissioners discussed the statutory timeline and staff explained the extension is required by statute no later than Sept. 1 of next year; staff also described interdependencies between the operator contract and other promotional agreements.

Ellie Steckley, interim lottery operations director, presented two promotional extensions recommended for renewal through March 31, 2028: a Dallas Cowboys trademark license and promotional services agreement (which supports a Cowboys-branded scratch ticket and related experiential prizes) and a presence/promotional agreement for The Star in Frisco. Steckley described the contracts' role in player reach, field events and prize delivery and confirmed that the agreements are funded from game price structures and not general fund appropriations.

Some commissioners asked for fuller briefings ahead of major extensions to better understand the operator's role, technology, and long-term procurement plans; staff committed to a detailed briefing in December and the creation of a lottery/bingo work group to improve oversight. The commission approved the two-year operator extension and the promotional contract renewals on roll-call votes.