Chat logs and gambling data show the tactics used by Stake, an Australian-run online casino, to keep one player hooked.
A former employee says it’s a “mild” case, compared to the flood of addicted players complaining to the site daily.
It took eight days for Oscar* to be picked out as a loser.
He had fallen into a catastrophic bender, depositing more than $US40,000 ($61,000) into the online casino, Stake, and losing it all.
After watching this initial bloodbath, a casino employee stepped in.
But it wasn’t for a welfare check; Oscar was being welcomed into Stake’s VIP program.
Jelena VIP: Hey Oscar.
Jelena VIP: Welcome aboard to my VIP team, I’ll be taking care of your VIP bonuses.
