Three Europeans have been linked to the $95 million Texas Lottery jackpot last year, an investigation found.
The winning ticket sold in April 2023 was claimed under a New Jersey business named Rook TX LP, in Scotch Plains, reported NBC DFW.
The claimant accepted a one-time payout of $57.8 million after taking out the third-highest jackpot in state history.
They had purchased the ticket in Colleyville at Hooked on MT, a lottery courier service.
Now an investigation by The Houston Chronicle has found that Ade Repcenko – a gaming entrepreneur operating out of Malta – was the ‘point man’ behind achieving the massive win.
According to evidence, the enterprise was funded through a large London betting company called Colossus Bets which organizes buying syndicates to make legal wagers.
Court documents allege that Philip Gurian, owner of Honey Tree Trading, lent Austin-based online lottery sales company called Lottery.com $1.3 million.
Gurian said he met Repcenko at a gathering 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, and they pool money so that when lotteries get big enough they buy up 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 assisted in the single-buyer operation to win the $95 million jackpot.
Retailers from Lottery.com – where people can buy Texas lotto tickets – submitted urgent order requests to the lottery commission shortly before the drawing.
Each Texas Lotto draw typically generates 1 million to 2 million ticket sales, but records show over 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.
Evidence reviewed by The Chronicle suggests the $25 million Repcenko acquire all the tickets came from Colossus Bets.
Colossus Bets was founded by two professional gamblers, Zeljko Ranogajec and Bernard Marantelli.
Gregory Potts, Lottery.com’s COO, told the outlet he could neither confirm nor deny Colossus Bets’ involvement in the April 22, 2023, game.
An internal email viewed by The Chronicle showed Potts told the company, ‘We should not mention anything about Lotto Texas wholesale operations in the US.’
‘This type of business is legal and compliant but is not something we publicize. It is considered cheating by lottery players and we do not want to raise attention to it.’