Italian authorities freeze $28m in assets from alleged lottery fraud scheme
Former Lottomatica employees accused of using computer access to steer $27m in scratch-off jackpots to relatives and friends between 2015 and 2019.
Italian authorities have frozen more than $28 million in assets belonging to former lottery employees accused of using privileged computer access to steer $27 million in scratch-off jackpots to relatives and friends, according to court documents.
The alleged scheme
The scheme involved four employees and two former employees of Lottomatica, the company then operating Italy’s state-backed Gratta e Vinci scratch-off lottery. Between 2015 and 2019, the employees allegedly used legitimate login credentials to access company servers, identifying two tickets carrying €7 million ($7.8 million) jackpots and two worth €5 million ($5.6 million) apiece.
According to court documents, the insiders were able to determine the exact retail outlets to which the winning tickets would be shipped, as well as their delivery dates. Two €5 million tickets were sold in Milan and nearby Brescia province in 2015, a €7 million ticket was purchased in Foggia in 2017, and another in Cremona in 2019.
Asset freeze
On Friday (Oct. 23), the Lazio branch of Italy’s Court of Auditors froze assets of five alleged conspirators valued at more than €25 million ($28 million). The frozen assets included 25 properties across six Italian provinces and five cars and motorcycles, plus financial holdings.
Lottomatica cooperated with police and is not accused of wrongdoing.
Sources
- Casino.org News · Industry media · primary source ·
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