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.”
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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 Lottery.com 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.
International scheme could cost another winner their jackpot
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.
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How to play the lottery legally
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.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
