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By TheLotteryNetwork.com Team

It’s the question no one in the industry wants to answer out loud: Are state lotteries fixed?

Thanks to a bombshell investigative report by The Houston Chronicle, the question is no longer hypothetical — it’s urgent. If you still believe that state-run lotteries are fair games of chance, buckle up.

I know you have met the guy who swears he was just one number off from hitting the Pick3 again. Well then, you already know the type. He’s the guy at the gas station explaining how he’s due like rent. The kind who can lose $100 and call it breaking even while standing in a pile of losing tickets. He’s pure hope, and just enough delusion to make you wonder if he’s onto something or completely nuts. But don’t judge him—he might be your uncle, your barber, or even someone closer.

Few stories capture the imagination quite like someone beating the lottery odds—not once, but three times. That’s exactly what David Serkin of Lethbridge, Alberta, has done over the past nine months. First, he pocketed $500,000 in a Lotto Max draw last August. Four months later, he landed a $1 million prize in a Lotto 6/49 draw in November. And just this past May, Serkin struck again—another $1 million, this time in a Lotto 6/49 Classic draw—bringing his total winnings to $2.5 million. Before you start drafting your own “fortune‐teller” columns, let’s break down the facts, question the improbable, and consider what this means for everyday Alberta players.

That’s not a typo. That’s someone’s real payout from a recent New York City lottery redemption.

She won over $13,000, but after federal, state, and city withholdings — and a massive $6,511.96 claw back labeled “Public Assistance” — she walked away with just $1,472.05. That’s nearly 90% gone before she ever touched a cent.

In recent weeks, Jackpocket.com has been hit with a wave of negative press and frustrated social media posts from players who feel blindsided by outrageous fees and unacceptable payout delays. What started as a “convenient way” to buy lottery tickets online has turned into a nightmare for many customers.

For decades, lottery players across America have been locked into the same old routine: driving to the corner store, standing in line, and scratching out tickets that rarely hit. Others have tried apps like Jackpocket.com, only to discover high fees, slow payouts, and a frustrating experience when they finally do win.