Adrian Portelli, a prominent Melbourne businessman, has been acquitted of charges related to operating illegal lotteries; however, his company, Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, was fined $40,000 for conducting unlawful lotteries. The 36-year-old billionaire faced nine charges of aiding in illegal lottery operations in South Australia, but was found not guilty by the court.
Despite his personal acquittal, the court ruled against Xclusive Tech, which was convicted of ten counts regarding lottery conduct without the required licenses. Portelli’s operations included a subscription-based rewards club, which offered members chances to win significant prizes, such as cars and properties. Under South Australian legislation, any trade promotion lotteries involving prizes over $5,000 necessitate a valid license and entries must be free.
Magistrate Melanie Murton noted the contention over whether the commissioner’s refusal to grant a license to Xclusive Tech for its lottery activities played a role in the alleged offenses. The court determined that the nature of the transactions focused chiefly on the sale of lottery entry tickets, which were deemed illegal without appropriate licensing. Each violation could incur a penalty of up to $10,000.
In light of the verdict, Portelli expressed his relief via social media, stating gratitude for the verdict and criticising the costly proceedings. He claimed the company was operating under entitlement to issue necessary permits, suggesting that the fines could have been avoided had the correct permissions been authorised.
Portelli gained notoriety for his extravagant lifestyle, particularly in 2022, when he notably arrived at a house auction for the reality show The Block in a flashy yellow Lamborghini. He later acquired five properties from the show for a total of $15.03 million during its 2024 series.
In his absence from the courtroom during the verdict, Portelli previously labelled the prosecution as a misuse of taxpayers’ resources, asserting his intention not to succumb to pressures from authorities. Following the trial, he had warned on social media that a guilty ruling would lead him to "round it up to $200,000" in fines.
The proceedings have sparked discussions about the regulatory landscape concerning lottery operations and the implications for businesses engaged in similar practices.