A reclusive international gambler known as \u201cThe Joker\u201d has acknowledged helping finance a 2023 operation that bought nearly every possible combination in a Lotto Texas drawing, guaranteeing a win and raising questions about oversight in the state\u2019s lottery system.<\/p>\n
Zeljko Ranogajec, an Australian high-stakes bettor who wagers billions annually, confirmed<\/a> his role in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. The coordinated effort produced a $57.8 million jackpot payout, with organizers netting roughly $20 million in profit after costs.<\/p>\n \u201cI was involved in the funding of the Texas lottery play,\u201d Ranogajec said, the Herald reported. <\/p>\n He added that the scale would have been impossible \u201cwithout full cooperation\u201d from the Texas Lottery Commission.<\/p>\n The scheme centered<\/a> on the April 22, 2023, drawing, when a group purchased virtually all 25.8 million number combinations through four licensed retailers in Round Rock, Spicewood, Waco, and Colleyville. Millions of tickets were printed over 72 hours using specialized equipment and extra terminals supplied by the state agency.<\/p>\n The Texas Lottery Commission has come under scrutiny for providing pallets of paper and additional machines to retailers that had sold few tickets in prior months, while overlooking apparent rule violations. Former executive director Gary Grief claimed he was unaware of the full scope, but that account has been challenged by participants who said they received prior approval.<\/p>\n The operation involved Bernard Marantelli, who handled logistics, along with David Walsh and others with histories of large-scale lottery plays. Earlier attempts in April 2023 resulted in losses but produced statistically unusual second-place wins.<\/p>\n Gov. Greg Abbott ordered<\/a> a Texas Rangers investigation in February 2025, stating that \u201cTexans must be able to trust in our state\u2019s lottery system.\u201d Attorney General Ken Paxton launched<\/a> a separate probe, expressing concern that \u201cnon-citizens\u201d were attempting to \u201crig the system.\u201d More than a year later, neither office has released findings.<\/p>\n