He has been dubbed the "Loch Ness Monster", simply because he is so rarely seen. They had names like "Hollywood" George Edser, the "Prince of Punters" Perc Galea, the "Filipino Fireball" Felipe Ysmael and Eddie "The Fireman" Birchley.Įgo drove them and, for some, was their downfall. They wore expensive suits, had flash cars and dined at the best restaurants. Ranogajec, who is in Europe with his wife and daughter, did not respond to questions from The Weekend Australian and the ATO declined to comment, citing privacy provisions.Ī man never spotted at racetracks or casinos, Ranogajec defies the image of the traditional flamboyant punter from the rich history of Australian thoroughbred racing. The Weekend Australian understands that the ATO has asked Ranogajec for financial records going back seven years. "At this stage no gambler in Australian history has ever been taxable." "The assumption that he owes them money depends on the assumption that gambling is taxable and that has never happened in Australia," Walsh says. Walsh says he and Ranogajec have discussed the audit, which he says is due to be completed by next September. "Does he owe them money? I suspect he reckons he doesn't and they reckon he does." "He is being audited (by the tax office) at the moment but I am sure it will turn out amicably," Walsh tells The Weekend Australian. Ranogajec recently helped fund Walsh's dream of building Hobart's newest tourist drawcard, the $70 million Museum of Old and New Art and Walsh says he feels deeply indebted to his former university colleague. Now, the mysterious son of Croatian immigrants faces an ATO audit, according to his business partner and fellow gambler David Walsh. Tasmanian-born Zeljko Ranogajec accounts for between 6 and 8 per cent of Tabcorp's $10bn Australian betting turnover and is said by experts to be the world's biggest punter. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: The AustralianĪUSTRALIA'S biggest gambler, a reclusive maths wiz who bets more than $1 billion each year, is being examined by the Australian Taxation Office. Zeljko Ranogajec enjoying a walk around Balmoral in Sydney. Taxman targets the king of punters Zeljko Ranogajec Victorian TAB customers betting into South African pools will be betting under South African betting rules, which includes some concepts new to the Australian wagering market such as the declaration of a 4th place dividend for all South African races with 16 or more starters.Īs well as South Africa, Tabcorp now has a regular program of international racing from Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United Kingdom and France, as well as major events from Japan and Ireland.Not to forget the rebates they pay to the big players.at the expense of the small punters. The deal also means that South African punters will have regular access to betting on a range of Victorian TAB pools. Subject to final regulatory approval, Tabcorp customers will soon commence wagering directly into South African totalisator pools via the SuperTAB pool (operated by the Victorian TAB), in a similar manner to the existing co-pooling arrangement with New Zealand. Key beneficiaries from this long-term arrangement will be the Australian and South African racing industries, Tabcorp and PGE, and the many punters who currently experience racing from both countries. The partnership provides for the reciprocal expansion of the broadcast of racing, and the co-mingling of totalisator pools between the two countries. Tabcorp and its racing broadcaster Sky Racing, will today formally enter into a long term partnership with Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE) - a joint venture between South African horse racing and the two South African tote betting operators, Phumelela and Gold Circle. Continuous comingling between Australia and South Africa
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