A series of fortunate events took a dramatic turn for dozens of individuals in Sydney, Australia, when a casino software glitch inadvertently showered them with millions of dollars in cash. The incident, which unfolded at The Star casino in mid-2023, involved malfunctioning “ticket in, cash out” (TICO) machines that dispensed excessive cash due to a software error.
Initially, small additional amounts were erroneously paid out before the glitch escalated, leading to the distribution of “very large amounts of cash.” By the time the casino detected the problem, it had already lost a staggering AU$3.2 million (around US$2.05 million). Investigations revealed that at least 43 individuals exploited the bug to withdraw funds that did not belong to them.
The casino promptly reported the errant customers to the police, resulting in the arrest of several individuals on fraud charges. Among them was Thanh Lan Le, a recovering gambling addict who reportedly withdrew $57,265 from the malfunctioning TICO machines. Le has since agreed to plead guilty and return the fraudulently obtained funds.
The incident underscores the potential risks posed by software glitches in gaming machines and the importance of timely detection and rectification measures to mitigate financial losses. The casino’s independent inquiry into the matter is ongoing, with the aim of identifying the root cause of the software glitch and implementing appropriate safeguards to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
