In 1994, Ranogajec reportedly won a $7.5 million Keno jackpot at the leisure and entertainment complex North Ryde RSL Club, of New South Wales, after reportedly betting 'significantly more than $7.5 million' to win it but coming out ahead due to the additional, smaller prizes awarded along the way to winning the jackpot. In 2011, Ranogajec was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Ranogajec, by that time, was already moving to other areas of advantage play, in any area of gambling where an advantage could be identified. All these casino bans earned him the nickname 'The Joker'. Eventually, Ranogajec was banned from most casinos in Australia, starting with Wrest Point, the Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, and then, after he moved overseas, in the United States as well. Ranogajec worked with Alan Woods in the 1980s. His starting bankroll was allegedly 'a few hundred dollars', through which he won 'millions'. He subsequently relocated to New South Wales where he transferred his studies to the University of NSW in Sydney from which he eventually dropped out of to concentrate fully on advantage gambling.Īustralian gambling career Blackjack Īccording to professional blackjack players, Ranogajec was 'one of the most prolific and innovative advantage players of all time'. While there, Ranogajec met his future wife and business partner, Shelley Wilson, who was a full-time employee. He was a Commerce and Law student of the University of Tasmania, studying tax, finance and banking, when he began card counting in Blackjack at the Wrest Point Casino. Ranogajec was born in Hobart, Australia, in a family of Croatian immigrants. The London-based Ranogajec is known for horse betting, blackjack and other forms of advantage gambling. Zeljko Ranogajec (born ) is a businessman and professional gambler from Australia.

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