Bill Benter — The Mathematician Who Beat Hong Kong Horse Racing
Inspired by blackjack card-counting techniques, he built one of the first computer algorithms capable of predicting race outcomes
Bill Benter, a Pittsburgh-born mathematician, turned Hong Kong’s horse racing into a laboratory for probability.
Inspired by blackjack card-counting techniques, he built one of the first computer algorithms capable of predicting race outcomes with astonishing accuracy, tracking over 120 variables per horse.
Partnering briefly with Australian gambler Alan Woods, Benter endured early losses but refined his model using public betting odds and proprietary data, eventually winning millions without attracting public attention.
sponsored by WeDeploi
Operating discreetly, Benter created a “quantitative hedge fund” for horse racing, influencing syndicates worldwide. He famously won the HK$118 million Triple Trio jackpot in 2001 but left the tickets unclaimed, letting the money go to charity. Over decades, his algorithmic approach helped legitimize computer-assisted betting, inspiring a generation of high-tech gamblers.
Today, Benter lives in Pittsburgh, continuing to bet globally, run a medical transcription company, and support philanthropic causes through the Benter Foundation.
His operations have likely generated close to a billion dollars, making him one of the most successful—and secretive—gamblers in history.
