It has been revealed that an Australian gambler dubbed “The Joker” is at the heart of a $151 million US lottery scandal.
In 2023, a team of international gamblers sparked outrage in Texas after scoring a $US95 million jackpot ($151 million AUD).
Hear more from today’s headlines on The Briefing:
How did they do it? By buying nearly all of the 25.8 million possible combinations for $1 apiece.
The prize was claimed by a company whose owner wanted to remain anonymous.
Australian gambler Zeljko Ranogajec was allegedly part of the few who masterminded the plan leading to the third-largest lotto jackpot in Texas history.
The group made $US20 million profit ($32 million AUD).
The practice of bulk buying lottery tickets is not illegal. The lawyer representing the group said “all applicable laws, rules and regulations were followed”.
However, earlier this month Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called it, “The biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas”.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.