Convenience Big Store: Secretive Australian gambler bankrolled $95M Texas lotto scheme

March 16, 2026

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Here's what you should know to start your day:

Need to know: "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners" were the big winners at Sunday night's 98th Annual Academy Awards.
Top of the chart: One of the most-read stories on our site yesterday was music critic Joey Guerra's interview with Pepe Aguilar ahead of his RodeoHouston debut.

Here's the rest of the news.

1

Zeljko Ranogajec, a.k.a. 'The Joker,' described financing a 2023 Texas Lottery operation in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. The scheme had over $25 million in upfront costs, netting an estimated $20 million after taxes.

Secretive Australian gambler 'The Joker' breaks silence about role in $95 million Texas Lottery play.

Zeljko Ranogajec, a high-stakes Australian gambler known as "The Joker," confirmed his involvement in the 2023 Texas Lottery scheme in a recent interview with a Sydney newspaper.

With the jackpot at $95 million, a single buyer purchased virtually all of the possible 25.8 million number combinations, guaranteeing a win. The intricate operation required buying millions of tickets within a 72-hour window. When it was all over, an entity called Rook TX took home a $57.8 million check.

"I was involved in the funding of the Texas Lottery play," Ranogajec said.

He also said the Texas Lottery Commission, which later dissolved amid fallout from the scandal, was in on it.

Eric Dexheimer has more on "The Joker" and new details from the lottery scheme.

2

Big win for Rice University: $22.3M will fund two new space research centers.

New funding from the Texas Space Commission and U.S. Space Force will expand Rice University's space research programs.

3

Pasadena ISD student artwork sells for record-breaking $525K at Houston rodeo.

The grand and reserve champion works nearly doubled last years earnings, with a record $825K going to student scholarships and art funds.

Plus: See all the winners from the art awards.

4

How Ted Cruz was 'blindsided' by the Pentagon in his push for aviation safety.

To Cruz, it seemed like an obvious and easy fix. And it appeared most of Congress was in agreement.

5

ICE has targeted more people, but fewer criminals since Trump took office.

Over a third of the arrests made by ICE under President Donald Trump were of individuals with no criminal convictions and no pending criminal charges, compared to 13% of individuals under the Biden administration.

6

Austin wasn't always expensive. How it became Texas' priciest city.

From housing to child care, Austin's costs are climbing. The American-Statesman's Cost of Living series examines what changed and what it means for the city's future.

7

Meet 'Metro Houston': Montrose's crossing guard on Westheimer Road.

Fans have rallied around Metro over the past month after a TikTok introducing the 20-year-old as "the nicest person in Houston" went viral with roughly 2.6 million views.

💬 Quote of the Day

“

I know what the Scriptures have told me to do, and that is to care for an immigrant as though they're a member of our own family. So that's what we'll try to keep doing.

– Rev. Chris Seay, Ecclesia Houston

”

🏀 Sports

The University of Houston men's basketball team reacts to being named as a No. 2 seed in the South Region during NCAA Selection Sunday at Fertitta Center in Houston, Sunday, March 15, 2026. The Cougars open the tournament against No 15-seed Idaho in Oklahoma City.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Cougars: UH will face Idaho in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Here's what to know about the Vandals. Plus: UH is relying on a youthful rotation heading into March Madness after early growing pains.
Longhorns: Texas plays N.C. State in a First Four play-in game. Columnist Kirk Bohls explains how that could be to UT's advantage. Meanwhile, Texas secured a No. 1 seed in the women's tournament. Plus: Here's what to know about Texas A&M's matchup with Saint Mary's.
Astros: After a weekend in which he hit his first home run of the spring, Yordan Alvarez said he's feeling "pretty good." Meanwhile, Cristian Javier turned in his longest outing of the spring in Sunday's game against the Marlins. Plus: Ryan Pressly returns to Houston as a Space City Home Network analyst.
Mock draft 3.0: After last week's free-agent activity, the Texans may look outside the offensive line with their first pick in the draft.

🗣️ Opinion

Congress could cut health care costs by passing a bipartisan price transparency bill, writes Rice University's Vivian Ho in a guest column.
Texas' long-established open government laws help us see how taxpayer dollars are spent and root out malfeasance. It's important to keep these transparency laws strong, guest columnist Kelley Shannon writes in the Austin American-Statesman.
Tell us: What's been your favorite part of the Houston rodeo this year?