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Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'World's largest lottery scandal' unmasked as banker and sidekick win £42m
The mastermind behind the lottery stunt turned out to be former London banker-turned bookmaker Bernard Marantelli, aided by Zeljko Ranogajec, known as 'The Joker' A 74-year-old woman who exposed the "biggest lottery scandal in the world" has shared the precise moment she realised winners had been "cheated" by a London banker. The mastermind behind the Texas Lottery stunt turned out to be former London banker-turned bookmaker Bernard Marantelli, aided by Zeljko Ranogajec, known as "The Joker." Marantelli was determined to try and take down the Texas Lottery and turned to Ranogajec, who helped bankroll the cunning plan. The pair aimed to buy every possible lottery number at $1 a ticket, to try and win the $95million (£70 million) jackpot. To pull it off, they worked out a way to use "dozens" of official ticket-printing machines. This was all made possible because at the time, the state of Texas allowed online lottery ticket vendors to print tickets for their customers. With the help of one vendor, the duo printed huge reams of tickets during an intensive three-day operation. Marantelli and Ranogajec would set up a shop in an old dentist's office and a warehouse in Texas. Their crew printed thousands of tickets a minute to try and edge towards the 25.8million different number combinations. But it wasn't until the Lotto Texas jackpot reached a staggering $73million (£53million) on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, that suspicions arose. With no winner announced, the prize pot rolled over. On the Sunday, the jackpot rose to $95million (£70million), prompting 74-year-old Dawn Nettles, a seasoned "lottery watchdog", to investigate. "There hadn't been a winner in 92 draws and sales didn't support the odds", she explained. Dawn dedicates her life to the Lotto Report website, which was first launched in 1998 as a draw results page for players. She spends between 12-24 hours a day monitoring sales of the Texas Lotto for the morning, day, evening, and night draws. The retiree always carries her computer with her so she can post the results from anywhere in the country and admits she doesn't go to bed until at least "1 or 2am." She had been successful in exposing the lottery's wrongdoings and the unfair way it had treated its players. One example included showing a Willy Wonka game that promised a $1billion winner that did not actually deliver any winners. The closest she found was a Texas winner who won $42,500 (£31,000). Dawn was tracking the sale of lotto tickets when she noticed a strange surge in sales. Tickets for the draw on April 19, 2023 surged to an "unbelievable" $7.3million (£5.3million). "That night, I thought someone had invested £5million and used a computer program to predict numbers would be drawn", she revealed. "There was no winner that night so the jackpot was raised to $72million (£53million) for Monday evening's draw. "Sales were normal considering apps were selling tickets to people across the US. There was no winner on Monday night, so Wednesday's jackpot was raised to $73million. No winner on Wednesday so the jackpot was raised to $74million (£54million) for Saturday's draw. "But on Friday, the Texas Lottery Commission raised the jackpot to $83million (£63million) and that's when I knew what was going on. I knew someone was buying all the combinations and I also knew on Friday that the commission would increase the jackpot again. And they did, on Saturday – they raised it to $95million (£69million) which I figured was a little too high." Dawn believes the Marantelli and Ranoajec waited longer for the jackpot to rollover and increase in value in order to maximise the $26million spent on tickets. The pair had enlisted an online ticket-selling company and put "dozens" of machines into action to churn out tickets from warehouses in Texas. In the time between the April 19 draw and the following one, their crew spent an intensive three days purchasing 99.3% of all possible number combinations. With the capacity to turn over 100 tickets a second, their efforts culminated in clinching a $57million (£42million) jackpot, after Texas gave the green light for online ticket outlets to print tickets for players. "I also firmly believed it was an app selling the tickets", Dawn said. "I reasoned that the only way they could get all of the combinations into systems electronically. Two years later, we know QR codes were used, 60 to 70 lottery terminals were delivered to four locations and the bad guys were working 24/7 for three days to print the 25million tickets." The Texas Lottery Commission said there was nothing suspicious about the games. However, lawmakers have blamed Texas Lottery Commission for allowing third-party courier apps to print tickets for customers. It later transpired that the winning ticket was printed in Colleyville and sold by a shop named "Lottery Now". Curious to see if the shop actually existed, Dawn hopped in her car and drove to the given address. "I drove over there on Sunday morning and there was no shop called "Lottery Now", which was the name the Texas Lottery Commission posted as winning the ticket", she revealed. "There was no retail store at the address the commission provided – it was a small strip office complex. There were no signs indicating someone could buy lottery tickets there. There was no one there and I looked through the window and only saw two desks. "The Texas Lottery Commission knew exactly where sales were coming from on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and they sat back and watched. It made me sick knowing how all this works. "This was extremely unfair to Texas Lottery players. I knew this on Friday, April 21 when they upped the jackpot from $74million to $83million." Governor Dan Patrick labelled the crew's win as "the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas". In April, the Texas Lottery Commission decided to ban couriers from selling tickets online following several high-profile incidents, including a £70.33million jackpot win in 2023 involving bulk ticket purchases through a courier. The worry over using apps like Jackpocket to buy lottery tickets online through licensed retailers has triggered investigations about potential misuse. Texas Lottery executive director Ryan Mindell stepped down in April amid serious concerns about the courier services. "The proliferation of couriers in the state has raised serious concerns that the integrity, security, honesty, and fairness of lottery games is being undermined by the continued activity of courier services," he stated. Mr Mindell told a Senate hearing earlier in the year a junior employee signed off the request to allow people to rapidly print tickets. The men behind the scandalous lottery scheme have never spoken out. Bernard Marantelli was approached for comment. Dawn confesses she only feels "partially vindicated" following the ordeal and wants those responsible to be held to account. She added: "I need to see that those responsible for the many wrongdoings for the past 30 years are held accountable. Will our lawmakers right the wrongs committed against unsuspecting lottery players?".
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘I'm being treated as the bad guy': Texas woman's $83M lottery prize now 'on hold' because she used ticket app
A group of international gamblers legally purchased nearly every number combination in a Texas state lottery drawing — a scheme designed to guarantee a win. It worked — and it may be why another woman is now being denied her own $83.5 million prize. 'I'm being treated as the bad guy,' the anonymous winner said. The group's $95 million win, which the New York Post described as 'something out of a heist movie,' was spearheaded by London-based trader Bernard Marantelli and bankrolled by Zeljko Ranogajec, an Australian professional gambler known as 'the Joker.' Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Together, they exploited a simple math trick: when the jackpot is large enough, you can make a profit by buying almost every possible ticket. According to the Wall Street Journal, the group teamed up with and used warehouses packed with printing terminals to produce 99.3% of those combinations in just three days. The team won a lump-sum prize of $57.8 million, but lottery officials are closing loopholes so that they may keep other winners from collecting. Buying every ticket wasn't illegal under Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) rules at the time. As the Post reports, 'nothing in the Texas state lottery code says a person can't buy every number combination.' Winners are also allowed to remain anonymous, so the group initially claimed their prize through a local company called Rook TX. But the victory didn't stay quiet for long. When a Texas woman won an $83.5 million jackpot this past February, after buying her ticket through the Jackpocket app, she was told she couldn't collect her winnings. State officials are now cracking down on anything that falls outside of tightly controlled, in-person lottery purchases — especially when foreign actors are involved or the ticket-buying process becomes hard to regulate. 'Sometimes there are reasons to investigate things, but I don't think mine is one of them.' the anonymous winner told Nexstar, speaking on condition of anonymity. Dawn Nettles, a longtime lottery watchdog, disagrees. 'It doesn't matter that the courier apps weren't officially banned in Texas when she bought her ticket, because she purchased it over the internet and paid an added fee — and those things are against the law,' she told the Post. Even so, Nettles admits that others have gotten away with similar purchases in the past. She is now part of a class action lawsuit targeting the original $95 million payout to Rook TX and says that it should never have been allowed. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called the team's win 'the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas,' reports the Post. Others have raised concerns that international groups are siphoning off winnings that should benefit Texas residents. 'If you win $50 million in the lottery, you are probably going to buy a new car, new home, buy things for friends — all that is going to assist [the state's] economy. But not if the money is leaving the state,' said Nettles. The TLC formally banned lottery courier services in February 2025. In a press release, the commission said it would revoke the licenses of any retailer working with such services. The new policy became effective immediately and is expected to be written into official rules this spring. At the governor's request, the Texas Rangers have launched an investigation into both the 2023 group win and the February 2025 case. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis If you're trying your luck with the lottery, make sure you follow Texas law to avoid trouble, especially now that enforcement is tightening. Here are a few guidelines: Buy in person. Texas law prohibits the sale of lottery tickets by mail, phone or internet. You must buy tickets from a licensed retailer within the state. Avoid courier apps. As of February 2025, services like Jackpocket are no longer permitted in Texas. Even if they're still operating, your ticket may not be valid. Read the rules. Each state has different regulations. Before purchasing a ticket, check with your state's lottery commission for the latest guidelines. Keep your receipt. Whether claiming a prize or disputing a decision, having proof of your purchase can help your case. With rule changes underway, lottery players should take care to avoid any missteps. That means you'll need to play the lottery in both the letter and the spirit of the law. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Inside the scheme to buy 25m tickets and win the Texas lottery – and how it's affected another winner's $83m payout
What's the only way to guarantee winning the lottery? Everyone knows – you buy every number combination imaginable, which is exactly what one audacious international group of gamblers did, throwing the Texas state lottery into disarray in the process. The group calculated if they bought 25.8 million $1 tickets of almost every potential six-number combination between 1 and 54, they would make a profit when the jackpot was higher. The theory was put to the test in April 2023 when the Lotto Texas jackpot rolled over to $95 million. The scheme sounds so much like a heist movie it could be a parody, down to the man allegedly behind it being known as 'The Joker'. Addressing his assembled crack team of accomplices, he would say, of course: 'And the best part? … It's all perfectly legal.' 7 In 2023, a $95 million jackpot was won by a consortium led by London-based trader Bernard Marantelli, which purchased nearly all of the 25.8 million possible number combinations at $1 per ticket. Dan Abraham/Racing Fotos/Shutterstock Technically, it was. Nothing in the Texas state lottery code says a person can't buy every number combination, although since the win – which resulted in a lump-sum profit of $57.8 million before taxes – much is now under review. Perhaps most surprisingly, details of the mass buying scheme didn't surface until after February this year when a woman who claims she won an $83.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot fair-and-square was told she couldn't collect as she bought the ticket through an app. Days after the Feb. 17 draw for the $83.5 million prize, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) put the payout on hold and announced lottery courier services such as Jackpocket – which the woman had used – would no longer be allowed in Texas, effective immediately. Here's how the first controversial win may end up canceling the other. The $95 million jackpot scheme was hatched by one-time London-based banker Bernard Marantelli, according to the Wall Street Journal. 7 Zeljko Ranogajec is nicknamed 'the Joker'. Newspix via Getty Images The idea was bankrolled by Zeljko Ranogajec, a shadowy figure who operates out of Tasmania, Australia, and – among many aliases – is known to some as 'The Joker', per the newspaper. They recruited an online ticket seller, to work with them, according to the WSJ. The TLC even delivered 'dozens' of terminals to print the tickets at warehouses in Texas, where they spent the three days between the unclaimed April 19th draw and the next buying 99.3% of all the number combos (popular choices like 1,2,3,4,5,6 were discounted as it would mean splitting the prize with too many others). A bunch of associates and some of their kids worked around the clock to churn out 100 tickets or more per second, according to reports. In Texas lottery claimants are allowed to stay anonymous and the winners of the $95m payout were initially only known via a locally registered company called Rook TX. A New Jersey lawyer who represents the limited partnership told The Post: 'All applicable laws, rules and regulations were followed.' 7 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has launched state investigations into two lottery wins, including one this year where a woman purchased a winning ticket through a courier service, an online third-party vendor that purchases tickets on people's behalf. AP However, since the scheme was revealed, state lieutenant governor Dan Patrick has described the crew's win as 'the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas.' Former Texas Lottery Director Ryan Mindell — who announced his resignation on April 21 amid scrutiny from state officials — disagreed. He said 'the integrity of the game was not compromised' in the 2023 drawing and that agency policies had since been changed to make similar mass purchases more difficult in the future, according to the Houston Chronicle. Those rule changes have also affected February's currently anonymous winner of the $83.5m jackpot, who had purchased $20 worth of tickets through the Jackpocket app. The winner argues her case is different, given she paid $20 to play rather than the millions spent by Marantelli's group. 7 In February, the Texas Lottery Commission banned the use of all courier services, citing a lack of regulatory oversight AP 7 Attorney Randy Howry, who is representing the February 17 winner, said his client followed all of the Texas Lottery Commission's rules when she purchased the winning ticket through the Jackpocket app. Jackpocket 'I'm being treated as the bad guy,' said the woman, who spoke to Nexstar on the condition of anonymity. 'Sometimes there are reasons to investigate things, but I don't think mine is one of them.' Dawn Nettles, a longtime lottery watchdog who publishes a website tracking winners and jackpots, said she 'feels sorry' for the unidentified winner but the woman 'has an illegal ticket', because she used an online service to send a courier to collect it for her from a Winners Corner store in Austin. 'It doesn't matter that the courier apps weren't officially banned in Texas when she bought her ticket, because she purchased it over the internet and paid an added fee — and those things are against the law,' she told The Post. Texas regulations do not allow the sale of lottery tickets by mail, phone or internet and the TLC outlines on its website buyers must purchase tickets from a licensed retailer within the state. However, things are complicated. Nettles admits previous winners who have used similar services to Jackpocket were paid out, although she claims technically they shouldn't have been. Nettles is also part of an ongoing class action lawsuit against Rook TX, the TLC and others over the paying out of the $95 million win. 7 Executive Director Ryan Mindell announced his resignation effective April 21 in a statement, revealing Chief Financial Officer Sergio Rey has been appointed acting deputy director. Linkedin 7 The Texas Senate passed a bill on Feb. 27 banning online lottery ticket sales and stopping third-party services from selling tickets, but the measure is still awaiting a vote from the House. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Both wins are now under legal scrutiny. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the elite Texas Rangers law enforcement agency to investigate what happened in each case, a probe which is ongoing. State lotteries are targeted by international groups such as the one behind the $95 million win because multi-state lotteries like Powerball have too many combinations to make it worth trying to beat. That's also one of the reasons states are tightening their rules to ensure winners are going to spend their money where it is won. 'If you win $50 million in the lottery, you are probably going to buy a new car, new home, buy things for friends — all that is going to assist [the state's] economy. But not if the money is leaving the state,' Nettles said This, at least, goes in favor of February's Texas-based winner. And regardless, whether it was her or a Jackpocket employee, somebody bought the winning ticket.
