Achieved first class honours in both Maths I and Maths II in the Leaving Certificate at the age of 16. During the next three years he studied actuarial science before attending Macquarie University, graduating with an honours degree in mathematics in 1970. After being awarded several scholarships, he studied at the University of Minnesota, USA, obtaining a Master of Science degree in mathematics in 1972 and a PhD in Statistics and Operations Research in 1973. While there he received an award for excellence in teaching.

The next year he returned to Macquarie University to take up a lectureship and charge of the operations research program which he developed into the departments most successful study area. In addition to his academic career, in 1983 he was offered the position as a journalist sports writer at the Sydney Sun and the following year commenced a seven year role as the Footy TAB television presenter on Channel 10. Since that time he has made numerous television apearances along with over 100 radio interviews along with many magazine and newspaper arrticles. John has given lecture tours at dozens of universtites around the world including Oxford and Cambridge and has written twelve books, including Exam Scams and published over 75 scientific articles.

In 1999 he devised and still presents the highly successful course in Gambling, Sport and Medicine at Macquarie University which attracts over 300 students each year. For the past five years he has also been an adjunct professor in the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, also teaching in Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2002 he was awarded the university's inaugural award for Community Service for promotion of his academic field to the public at large.

Currently John is also completing his second PhD in history, the thesis involving research on one of his ancestors. Each week he provides some rather interesting statistical data for the Sydney Morning Herald's Number Crunch column in the Good Weekend magazine.