Leadership change amid challenging period for Lottery
By Kate Northrop
The Texas Lottery published a press release last night announcing the resignation of Executive Director Ryan Mindell and the appointment of an interim director while awaiting the selection process for a new Executive Director.
The Texas Lottery Commission issued a statement yesterday about a leadership change at the Texas Lottery, with Ryan Mindell stepping down from his role as Executive Director.
"Ryan Mindell notified the Texas Lottery Commission board of his resignation, effective today, April 21," TLC Chairman Robert G. Rivera said. "Sergio Rey, the agency's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery. The Commission board will consider its selection process for a new executive director at its next open meeting, scheduled for April 29."
The statement did not provide a reason for Mindell's resignation.
The Texas Lottery did not offer any additional information about the resignation or the search for a new Director when Lottery Post reached out. "Beyond the Chairman’s statement, the agency does not have additional information to share and does not comment on personnel matters," the Lottery responded.
Mindell served as Executive Director for one year, having been promoted to the role in April 2024 after former Executive Director Gary Grief retired at the end of February 2024. He joined the Texas Lottery in 2016 and, over the past eight years, worked in a variety of positions, including Lottery Operations Director, managing attorney, and Assistant General Counsel.
Texas Lottery CFO Sergio Rey was promoted to Acting Deputy Executive Director in the meantime while the agency awaits its next open meeting on April 29.
According to Rey's LinkedIn profile, he has acted as CFO for the Texas Lottery for over a year. Before joining the agency in October 2023, he previously served in several financial roles at various organizations, including Assistant Director of Accounting at Texas State University, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and Deputy Chief Financial Officer on the Texas Water Development Board.
The Texas Lottery in recent months has been embroiled in controversy, including denying a recent Lotto Texas jackpot winner their prize pending the outcome of seemingly unrelated investigations of couriers, lawsuits over jackpot "buyouts", and even threats by the Texas Legislature to shut down the Texas Lottery.
Well, they have to find the New Executive Producer that's not rigging the lottery. And have the sunset review agreed to.
I wonder why
Funny bcuz they knew darn well giving a shop 20-30 terminals, they eventually was going to win
Can't blame Ryan for that. Gary Grief was the director when that mess took place. Then when it all started coming out Grief stepped down leaving Ryan to deal with it. IMO he handled it pretty well for a year, he accepted what the Senate hearing saw as a solution, implemented those ideas, and promised to accept any changes they recommended.
But the finger pointing isn't going away. His resignation allows the commission to claim a clean sweep of their "sordid" past, if you will.
And we don't know what he knows about the ongoing investigations, or what's being said behind closed doors.
It may be his resignation is part of a deal to keep the Texas Lottery?
It may be his resignation is part of a deal to keep the Texas Lottery?
That's a good point. I hadn't considered that.
"I wonder why
"
People were already bitching more than usual when he took the position and now there's even more bitching and also a stronger attempt than usual to defund what you'd think would be a very profitable self-supporting agency. Who would want to deal with all the BS if they can find another job that will pay at least as much as a state job?