In a twist of fate, The Star casino in Sydney, Australia, became an unlikely beacon of fortune for its patrons during a remarkable fortnight last year. With the buzz spreading like wildfire, visitors and their entourages descended upon the establishment, seizing a golden opportunity from what seemed like the only sure bet in town.
The catalyst? Four “ticket in, cash out” (TICO) machines experienced a glitch, triggering a frenzy among opportunists of all backgrounds. From seasoned criminals to fervent gamblers, and even a handful of the homeless, they flocked to claim their unexpected windfalls. By the time the casino caught wind of the situation, a staggering A$3.2 million (NZ$3.4m) had vanished into the night.
TICO machines, akin to ATM-style kiosks, seamlessly convert winnings into tangible cash by scanning barcodes on vouchers obtained from poker machines. However, their convenience comes with a shadow of risk, as they can facilitate money laundering without the need for face-to-face transactions. To curb this threat, casinos typically limit TICO transactions to A$2000, requiring larger sums to be processed through a cashier.
This tale stands as a testament to the allure of chance and the convergence of technology and fortune, leaving The Star with a costly lesson in maintaining the delicate balance between convenience and security.
In a seemingly innocuous encounter at The Star one afternoon in early July, Thanh Lan Le’s plans took an unexpected turn. As a recovering gambling addict, she had steadfastly avoided the gaming floor for eight months. However, fate intervened when she crossed paths with her friend’s boyfriend, whose eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Take a look at this, am I seeing things?” he exclaimed, presenting two vouchers to a TICO machine. To their astonishment, the machine eagerly accepted both vouchers and promptly dispensed their combined winnings in crisp banknotes.
Mesmerized, Le and her companion witnessed a remarkable sequence unfold. The machine returned one voucher valued at approximately A$2000. Undeterred, he fed it back into the machine, extracting an additional A$2000.
What began as a chance encounter evolved into a surreal moment of unexpected fortune, blurring the lines between reality and possibility within the confines of The Star.
In a bizarre twist of fate, a software malfunction within The Star Casino’s TICO machines inadvertently transformed a simple transaction into a loop of perpetual fortune. This glitch, akin to discovering a hidden key, allowed players to exploit the system by reusing tickets multiple times, accompanied by a shower of cash.
For Thanh Lan Le, this glitch became an irresistible temptation. Over the span of 10 days, she found herself drawn into a mesmerizing dance between the machines scattered across the gaming floor. With each visit to the malfunctioning marvels, she fueled her gambling endeavors, succumbing to the thrill of the game on 34 separate occasions.
Caught in the throes of her newfound obsession, Le’s reality blurred as she chased the elusive promise of endless riches. Twice, exhaustion overcame her, lulling her into a brief slumber at her machine. Twice, attentive casino staff intervened, extending hospitality in the form of a room upstairs, unwittingly enabling her relentless pursuit of fortune.
In a daring feat of audacity, Le managed to siphon a staggering A$57,265 from the depths of the casino’s coffers. Yet, in a tragic twist, the vast majority of this windfall swiftly found its way back into the casino’s embrace, as Le surrendered to the seductive allure of the games that had ensnared her.
