Three Europeans were linked to last year’s $95 million Texas Lottery jackpot, an investigation has found.
The winning ticket sold in April 2023 was claimed under a New Jersey company called Rook TX LP, in Scotch Plains, reported NBCDFW.
The plaintiff accepted a one-time payout of $57.8 million after winning the third-largest jackpot in state history.
They bought the ticket in Colleyville from Hooked on MT, a lottery courier service.
Now investigate The Houston Chronicle has discovered that Ade Repcenko – a gaming entrepreneur operating out of Malta – was the ‘point man’ behind achieving the huge win.
Research has revealed that three Europeans won a $95 million Texas Lottery jackpot last year. The Houston Chronicle discovered that Ade Repcenko, a gaming entrepreneur operating out of Malta, is the man behind Payday
They also discovered evidence that the venture was financed through a major London gambling company called Colossus Bets, which organizes buyout syndicates to make legal bets. IMAGE: Colossus co-founder Bets Zeljko Ranogajc
According to evidence, the venture was financed through a major London gambling company called Colossus Bets, which organizes purchasing syndicates to make 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 mansion in Boca Raton, where he admitted to winning the Texas jackpot.
“He told me he was working with a syndicate, and they pool money so that when the lotteries get big enough, they buy all the tickets and get a big return,” Gurian said. “He said, ‘We just did it in Texas.’
A report from The Chronicle found that the Texas Lottery Commission helped the single-buyer operation win the $95 million jackpot.
Retailers of Lottery.com – where people can buy Texas lotto tickets – submitted urgent order requests to the lottery commission shortly before the drawing.
Each Texas Lotto drawing typically generates 1 to 2 million ticket sales, but records show more than 28 million tickets were purchased for the $95 million jackpot.
An examination of the second-prize winning tickets by the local newspaper revealed that Rook TX likely spent $25 million on tickets for that match, as Rook TX cashed 289 winning tickets in the five-out-of-six game.
A report from The Chronicle shows that the Texas Lottery Commission helped the single-buyer operation win the $95 million jackpot. IMAGE: Bernard Marantelli, co-founder of Colossus Bets
An internal email obtained by The Chronicle showed Potts telling the company: “We are not allowed to comment on Lotto Texas’ wholesale operations in the US. This type of business is legal and compliant, but is not something we advertise. It is considered cheating by lottery players and we do not want to draw attention to it.”
Evidence reviewed by The Chronicle suggests that Repcenko acquired $25 million worth of all the tickets from Colossus Bets.
Colossus Bets was founded by two professional gamblers, Zeljko Ranogajec and Bernard Marantelli.
Gregory Potts, COO of Lottery.com, told the outlet that he could not confirm or deny Colossus Bets’ involvement in the April 22, 2023 contest.
An internal email obtained by The Chronicle showed Potts telling the company: “We are not allowed to comment on Lotto Texas’ wholesale operations in the US.”
‘This type of business is legal and compliant, but is not something we advertise. It is seen as cheating by lottery players and we do not want to draw attention to it.”