Woman Steals $680,000 To Spend On Gambling Game That Never Paid Out

[TLO]

https://finance-yahoo-com.cdn.amppro...001500153.html

A woman has plead guilty to fraud charges after using her position as the accounts manager at a veterinary hospital to steal around $680,000, which she spent entirely on a mobile gambling game that did not and could not ever pay out with real cash.

As the ABC reports Rachel Naomi Perri, from Tasmania, Australia, appeared in court on Monday facing “25 counts of computer-related fraud and one count of fraud”, over allegations she made 475 “fraudulent transactions” during the three years she was employed at the hospital (2016-2019), stealing a total of AUD$940,221 (USD$680,000).

Those transactions were made to support her addiction to the gambling game Heart of Vegas, which incredibly was not an online gambling portal paying out real cash, but a video game that simulated real slot machines, and paid out its winnings in virtual, in-game currency. Meaning that no matter how much money Perri spent and how much she won, she would never see a cent of actual cash she could withdraw from the game.

Here are Heart of Vegas’ terms, listed on the game’s website and store pages:

The games are intended for an adult audience. The games do not offer “real money gambling” or an opportunity to win real money or prizes. Practice or success at social casino gaming does not imply future success at “real money gambling”.

[smithandrew051]

As dumb as this sounds, it’s not all that unbelievable to me. I have a certain relative who has wasted thousands on Candy Crush. Not exaggerating either.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

As dumb as this sounds, it’s not all that unbelievable to me. I have a certain relative who has wasted thousands on Candy Crush. Not exaggerating either.

What do you buy in Candy Crush? I always thought that games like that concentrated on ad revenue and free access.

Now that I think about it, though, I played Trivia Crack for a while and they sold stuff. I never bought anything, though.

[POND_OF_RED]

I’m not surprised. They’re pretty reckless in Tasmania.

[Marcellus]

I laughed way too ****ing hard at this.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Wait...what? So it takes real money to play the game but only pays out in virtual money?

I've lost thousands in our casino here.

[Mennonite]

Originally Posted by TLO

that did not and could not ever pay out with real cash.

So, slightly worse odds than playing the lottery and slightly better odds than paying into social security if you're under 40.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Brutal. Can you imagine how dumb you have to be?

And she is far from alone....

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

As dumb as this sounds, it’s not all that unbelievable to me. I have a certain relative who has wasted thousands on Candy Crush. Not exaggerating either.

A great rule to live by is to never, ever download a game that they advertise on TV as free. They're basically giving you a single potato chip; all the rest you pay for. Otherwise, they wouldn't be advertising.

I only have a couple of games on my phone, but they're games you only pay for once.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What do you buy in Candy Crush? I always thought that games like that concentrated on ad revenue and free access.

Now that I think about it, though, I played Trivia Crack for a while and they sold stuff. I never bought anything, though.

I’ve never actually played the game, but I heard it was all in-game rewards, bonus levels, extra lives, etc.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

As dumb as this sounds, it’s not all that unbelievable to me. I have a certain relative who has wasted thousands on Candy Crush. Not exaggerating either.

Holy shit, really? Addictions are real, but damn.

[FAX]

Not all of the cash was spent at Heart Of Vegas.

$300,000 was used to purchase a Hot Wheels Lamborghini.

FAX

[George Liquor]

This makes my gambling problem seem insignificant in comparison.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Holy shit, really? Addictions are real, but damn.

Yeah, unfortunately. Her husband was not happy when he figured it out.

It honestly doesn’t take as much as you’d think. She was playing it every night for a few years. Apparently, she was spending like $5+ per day on it. Some days as much as like $50-$100.

After a few years, she had spent like over $5K total.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

Yeah, unfortunately. Her husband was not happy when he figured it out.

It honestly doesn’t take as much as you’d think. She was playing it every night for a few years. Apparently, she was spending like $5+ per day on it. Some days as much as like $50-$100.

After a few years, she had spent like over $5K total.

The people who code those games know exactly what they are doing.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

Yeah, unfortunately. Her husband was not happy when he figured it out.

It honestly doesn’t take as much as you’d think. She was playing it every night for a few years. Apparently, she was spending like $5+ per day on it. Some days as much as like $50-$100.

After a few years, she had spent like over $5K total.

A person could rationalize it as entertainment, but it does seem very excessive.

I have been playing a FB game called Vegas Dream Poker, a few years now, almost every day for a few minutes up to an hour.

Might have spent $80 in those years, but it is kind of fun and have become friends with a few of the players. I consider it worth it for entertainment at that price but it is not real.

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

The people who code those games know exactly what they are doing.

Yeah, on VDP, some of the things that happen are beyond happenstance. As you get closer to reaching another level it is almost impossible to win a hand. Once again, it is just entertainment, better than reading posts in D.C.