The Journal. How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery
90 snips
May 16, 2025 
Brad Reagan, a WSJ reporter, dives into a jaw-dropping scheme by a team of betting experts led by the elusive 'The Joker' and a London banker. They orchestrated a plot to dominate the Texas Lottery, printing 99% of tickets for a $100 million jackpot. The duo's meticulous planning and strategic partnerships reveal how they manipulated the system. Reagan uncovers the legal gray areas and the ensuing investigations, raising questions about the integrity of lotteries and parallels to Wall Street's exploitive practices.
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The Joker's Mysterious Persona
- The Joker is a mysterious pro gambler known as the "Loch Ness Monster" due to rarity of photos.
- Originally from Tasmania, he partnered with Marantelli to exploit lottery opportunities globally.
Matchmaker and Money Man Duo
- Marantelli finds opportunities; The Joker funds the operation.
- Their plan was simple: buy nearly all Texas lottery tickets to guarantee winnings.
Leverage Official Printing Terminals
- To print millions of tickets fast, get permission and access to official lottery printing terminals.
- Employ multiple terminals and locations to speed up ticket production, even in unglamorous settings.