Published on: February 24, 2026, 02:44h.
Updated on: February 25, 2026, 06:12h.
- Out-of-state group invested $1 million to secure $1.6 million
- Record Idaho Cash jackpot linked to mass ticket acquisition
- Legislators aim to outlaw bulk lottery ticket sales
The Idaho Lottery experienced a substantial hit last year, with an out-of-state syndicate raking in $1.6 million by purchasing nearly every potential number combination, as disclosed by a state lawmaker advocating for new regulations to prevent similar occurrences.
Over a span of two weeks last year, the syndicate invested slightly more than a million dollars in lottery tickets to capture a $1.6 million win, as shared by State Senator Jim Guthrie (R-28th Dist) during a legislative session. He stated that this tactic deprived everyday Idaho residents of a fair shot at the winnings.
The Idaho Senate later passed a bill aimed at Governor Brad Little (R), intending to outlaw what is termed “bulk purchase transactions” of Idaho Lottery tickets.
Focus on the September 30 Draw
This syndicate’s victory, along with its strategies, had not been previously disclosed. The only public statement acknowledged that the largest “Idaho Cash” jackpot was won by an “out-of-state syndicate,” identified as Mudspell Pizza, LLC.
This jackpot, originating from an Idaho Cash drawing on September 30, 2025, was valued at $877,800 for the winner. While this amount does not directly align with the $1.6 million figure, it is likely the one referenced by the senator.
A syndicate controlling nearly every possible number combination would also succeed in claiming a significant share of secondary prizes.
Simultaneously, there were reports of the Idaho Lottery alerting retailers to potential bulk purchases as the jackpot soared to new heights, indicating unusual ticket sales or buying patterns.
Understanding Lottery Syndicate Operations
Lottery syndicates typically look for “positive expectation” scenarios—rare instances where the odds are tilted in their favor.
In essence, they wait for games with a lower number of combinations, allow the jackpot to accumulate significantly, then invest heavily to cover most or all potential outcomes.
The Idaho Cash game is structurally straightforward: players select five numbers from a pool of 1 to 45, resulting in only 1,221,759 possible combinations—minuscule compared to multi-state lotteries like Powerball or Mega Millions. However, a complete coverage of all combinations would require just over $1.2 million.
This relatively low barrier makes Idaho Cash particularly susceptible to syndicates with ample capital, especially when the jackpot swells. This is precisely what played out in September 2025 when the prize reached its new record high.
Parallels with Texas Lottery Controversy
This situation echoes a scandal in Texas, where a European syndicate acquired around 25.8 million tickets through lottery courier services to secure a $95 million jackpot, along with millions more in secondary prizes.
Lottery courier services, which are legally permitted in Idaho, allow customers to select numbers and place orders via an app. These couriers fulfill requests by purchasing actual lottery tickets from licensed retailers—or even printing the tickets under the necessary licenses. In Texas, the syndicate had couriers printing tickets non-stop.
This controversy ignited significant political backlash, leading to the dissolution of the Texas Lottery Commission and a comprehensive ban on lottery couriers.
The plot was widely assumed to have been orchestrated by a syndicate associated with the owners of the London-based betting platform, Colossus Bets, and the Malta-based software company, Spinola Gaming. There is currently no evidence suggesting a connection between this syndicate and the one involved with the Idaho Lottery.
Casino.org is in pursuit of more information from the Idaho Lottery and the Secretary of State regarding the parties involved with Mudspell Pizza, LLC.