Lottery

How to become a Texas Lottery retailer (now run by TDLR)

By the Fair Permits licensing team · Updated November 10, 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer

To sell Texas Lottery tickets, a store needs a Texas Lottery ticket sales license. Since September 1, 2025 the Texas Lottery is run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). You need an active sales tax permit, owners who pass the eligibility check, and a business bank account for the weekly sweep. The fee is $125 for the first location and the license runs 2 years, renewable for $15.

At a glance

Lottery retailer license

Issued by: Texas Lottery (run by TDLR since 2025)
Government fee: $125 for the first location ($100 application plus $25 bond fund); $50 for each extra location with the same tax ID.
Typical time: About 2 weeks after filing when nothing is missing, then terminal installation and mandatory training.
Renewal: 2 years; renewal is $15 per location.

Fees and times as published by each agency (checked November 10, 2026). We confirm them again when we file.

Who runs the Texas Lottery now

Senate Bill 3070, passed in 2025, moved the Texas Lottery from the Texas Lottery Commission to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The transfer took effect on September 1, 2025. Existing retailer licenses carried over, the forms and Retailer Wizard portal stayed the same, and older references to the Texas Lottery Commission now mean TDLR.

Who can get a license

The store must hold an active Texas sales and use tax permit.
Each owner, partner and officer must meet the eligibility rules, which look at criminal history, unpaid state debts and certain other disqualifiers.
The location has to be a type of business the Texas Lottery allows. Convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations are the most common.
A separate license is needed for each location.

What goes in the application packet

The Application for Texas Lottery Ticket Sales License.
An Owner Eligibility Certification for every owner and officer.
An IRS W-9 for the business.
The Electronic Fund Transfer Authorization form with a voided business check. Lottery sales are swept weekly from that business bank account, so it needs enough money in it on sweep day.
The fee: $125 for the first location ($100 application plus a $25 bond fund payment), and $50 for each extra location under the same tax ID.

Applications can be filed on paper or through Retailer Wizard, the Texas Lottery's online retailer portal.

Fingerprints, installation and training

Owners who have never held a Texas Lottery license are usually fingerprinted for a background check. Wait for the Texas Lottery's instructions before booking, because the request includes the codes the fingerprint vendor needs. Once the application is approved, the Texas Lottery schedules installation of the lottery terminal and mandatory retailer training. The license is not usable until the terminal is in and training is done, so answer the scheduling call.

How long it takes

About 2 weeks after filing when nothing is missing, then installation and training. Missing eligibility certifications for an officer and bank forms without a voided check are the usual causes of delay.

Renewal and staying in good standing

The license renews every 2 years for $15 per location. You can renew online through Retailer Wizard up to four months before expiry; if you do not, a renewal packet is mailed about two months before. Report changes in ownership or business structure to the Texas Lottery, and keep the license displayed. Rules to train staff on: no sales to anyone under 18, and it is a Class B misdemeanor to sell more than 100 lottery tickets to one person in a single transaction. Repeated missed sweeps or rule violations can lead to suspension or revocation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Texas Lottery retailer license cost?

$125 for the first location ($100 application fee plus $25 bond fund), and $50 for each additional location under the same tax ID. Renewal is $15 per location every two years.

Who issues Texas Lottery retailer licenses now?

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The Texas Lottery transferred from the Texas Lottery Commission to TDLR on September 1, 2025 under SB 3070.

How long does it take to get approved to sell lottery tickets in Texas?

About 2 weeks after a complete application is filed, followed by terminal installation and mandatory training.

Do I need a sales tax permit before applying for a lottery license?

Yes. The store must hold an active Texas sales and use tax permit.

Sources

This guide is general information about Texas government filings, not legal advice. Agencies change fees and rules; check the official source or ask us before you rely on a figure.

What permits do you need to open a convenience store in Texas?Every permit a new Texas convenience store files, which agency issues each one, the government fees, and the order to file them in so nothing stalls.
How to get a Texas sales and use tax permitWho needs a Texas sales tax permit, what it costs ($0), the AP-201 application, how long it takes, the security deposit, and the returns that follow.