Three Europeans have been linked to last year’s $95 million Texas Lottery jackpot, according to an investigation.
The winning ticket sold in April 2023 was claimed under a New Jersey company called Rook TX LP, in Scotch Plains, it reported. NBC DFW.
The claimant accepted a one-time payment of $57.8 million after taking home the third-largest jackpot in state history.
They had bought the ticket in Colleyville at Hooked on MT, a lottery courier service.
Now an investigation of The Houston Chronicle has discovered that Ade Repcenko, a gaming businessman operating from Malta, was the “key man” behind achieving the huge victory.
Three Europeans won the $95 million Texas Lottery jackpot last year, according to research. The Houston Chronicle discovered that Ade Repcenko, a gaming businessman operating out of Malta, is the man behind the payday.
They also uncovered evidence that the company was financed through a large London betting company called Colossus Bets, which organizes buying syndicates to place legal bets. PICTURED: Colossus Bets co-founder Zeljko Ranogajc.
According to evidence, the company was financed through a large London betting company called Colossus Bets, which organizes buying syndicates to place legal bets.
Court documents allege that Philip Gurian, owner of Honey Tree Trading, loaned the Austin-based online lottery sales company called Lottery.com $1.3 million.
Gurian said he met Repcenko at a meeting of Lottery.com executives and others at a Boca Raton mansion, where he admitted to winning the Texas jackpot.
“He told me he worked with a syndicate that raises money so that when the lotteries grow big enough, they buy all the tickets and make a big profit,” Gurian said. ‘He said, ‘We just did it in Texas.’
a report of The chronicle discovered that the Texas Lottery Commission assisted in the single-buyer operation to win the $95 million jackpot.
Lottery.com retailers, where people can buy Texas lottery tickets, submitted rush order requests to the lottery commission shortly before the drawing.
Each Texas Lotto drawing typically generates between 1 and 2 million tickets sold, but records show that more than 28 million tickets were purchased for the $95 million jackpot.
An examination of second-prize winning tickets by the local newspaper found that Rook TX likely spent $25 million on tickets for that contest because Rook TX cashed in 289 winning tickets in the five-of-six game.
A report by The Chronicle found that the Texas Lottery Commission assisted in the single-buyer operation to win the $95 million jackpot. PHOTO: Bernard Marantelli, co-founder of Colossus Bets
An internal email seen by The Chronicle showed Potts telling the company: “We should not mention anything about Lotto Texas’ wholesale operations in the United States.” This type of business is legal and compliant, but it is not something we advertise. Lottery players consider it a cheat and we don’t want to draw attention to it.
Evidence reviewed by The Chronicle suggests that Repcenko’s $25 million purchase of all tickets came from Colossus Bets.
Colossus Bets was founded by two professional gamblers, Zeljko Ranogajec and Bernard Marantelli.
Gregory Potts, Lottery.com’s chief operating officer, told the outlet that he could neither confirm nor deny Colossus Bets’ involvement in the April 22, 2023 game.
An internal email seen by The Chronicle showed Potts telling the company: “We should not mention anything about Lotto Texas’ wholesale operations in the United States.”
‘This type of business is legal and compliant, but it is not something we advertise. Lottery players consider it a scam and we don’t want to draw attention to it.’