Jessica Chapel / Railbird

Zeljko Ranogajec believed to be Australia's biggest punter

"Once the overseas betting turnover of his 24-hour, seven-day operation is taken into account, his total annual betting spend globally is believed to be well over $1 billion." More from a related article on Ranogajec: "Advantages like the sophisticated information and rebates stack the deck in favour of professionals like Mr. Ranogajec and other internationally renowned punters like American Bill Benter, over average punters."

(tags: horseracing wagering australia)
Computerised attack on horseracing

Article from 2000 about bettor Bill Benter, an early adopter of computer wagering. "If we do make money, the money has to come from somewhere. Well, yes, the general public loses a somewhat higher ratio." See also: This 2003 Wired piece on Hong Kong computer teams. "Working from mathematical models that are calculated to deliver a 24 percent return on investments, Hong Kong's most sophisticated computer-assisted bettors operate with long-term certainty of what their profits should be."

(tags: horseracing wagering hong-kong)
What's the one skill journos need right now?

Hustle. Passion. Subject knowledge.

(tags: journalism entrepreneurship)