A secret gambling syndicate successfully claimed a $95 million Texas lottery jackpot by purchasing almost every possible number combination, raising questions about the legality and ethics of such strategies.
Key Takeaways:
- Gambling team legally bought 99.3% of all ticket combinations
- $20 million profit made after lump sum payout
- Texas officials launched investigations into the scheme
The Ambitious Plan
In spring 2023, Bernard Marantelli, a London-based bookmaker, devised a plan to purchase every ticket combination for an upcoming Texas lottery drawing. With the jackpot approaching $95 million and tickets priced at $1 each, the potential profit was substantial.
Marantelli assembled a team that included renowned Tasmanian gambler Zeljko Ranogajec, known as ‘The Joker’ for his gambling exploits. The group established four makeshift ticket-printing hubs in Texas, utilizing lottery terminals acquired from Lottery.com, a struggling online vendor.
Execution and Success
The team worked tirelessly for three days, printing over 100 tickets per second. They managed to acquire 99.3% of all possible combinations for the six numbers from 1 to 54. Their efforts paid off when one of their tickets won the jackpot.
After opting for a lump sum payout of $57.8 million, the syndicate walked away with a profit of approximately $20 million. The win was claimed anonymously under the name ‘Rook TX.’
Aftermath and Investigations
The Houston Chronicle broke the story, leading to public scrutiny and official investigations. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered inquiries into the matter, while Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called it ‘the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas.’
Dawn Nettles, a self-appointed Texas gambling watchdog, filed a lawsuit against Lottery.com and the winners, alleging fraud against regular players. The defendants have not yet responded to these allegations.
Legal Implications and Industry Response
While bulk buying lottery tickets is technically legal, the scheme has prompted discussions about ethical considerations and potential loopholes in lottery systems. A lawyer representing Rook TX stated that ‘all applicable laws, rules and regulations were followed.’
The Texas Lottery Commission has since implemented measures to prevent similar occurrences, including limiting the number of tickets a terminal can sell daily and restricting the provision of extra terminals to low-traffic outlets.
This unprecedented win has caught the attention of others seeking to replicate the strategy, with retailers receiving offers to lease their lottery terminals for mass ticket printing. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by lottery operators in maintaining fair play while managing large-scale betting operations.
