Adrian Portelli charged with multiple counts of conducting an unlawful lottery by an Adelaide court
Adrian Portelli has been charged in a South Australian court over running an unlawful lottery. (Instagram: lmctplus)
In short:
A Melbourne businessman known for cash giveaways on social media has been charged with conducting an unlawful lottery.
South Australian authorities have charged Adrian Portelli with multiple counts of conducting an unlawful lottery between 2023 and 2024.
What's next?
Portelli will face court over the charges in January next year.
Melbourne property investor Adrian Portelli will face a South Australian court after being charged with running an unlawful lottery.
The 35-year-old has risen to prominence alongside television series The Block, with Mr Portelli purchasing several properties off the reality TV show.
Mr Portelli's company, LMCT+, describes itself as a "shopping tool and rewards club", offering shopping discounts for a monthly fee.
Mr Portelli's company charges monthly fees for shopping discounts, with membership including monthly draws. (LMCT+)
As part of the fee, members are also allegedly granted entry into monthly draws where cash and prizes can be won.
Advertising through social media, Mr Portelli claims to give away millions of dollars via giveaways that are then live-streamed.
Both Mr Portelli and his company, Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, face a total of 19 charges of person conducting/assist in the conduct of an unlawful lottery.
Mr Portelli has been charged with nine offences and the company with 10.
The charges range in date from 29 January 2023 to May 16 this year, with Xclusive Tech charged over several lotteries that offered properties from The Block as a major prize.
As per South Australia's Lotteries Act 2019, any lottery that is not licensed in the state is unlawful, with organisers facing a maximum penalty of $10,000.
Mr Portelli is due to face court on 15 January next year.