“Leave Me Alone” – Billionaire Adrian Portelli Tells South Australian Authorities
In a bold move, billionaire Adrian Portelli has taken to Instagram to defend himself against accusations of running an unlawful lottery. Portelli, who has been charged by South Australian authorities, claims that prosecuting him is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
A History of Investment in South Australia
Portelli, a well-known promotions guru and property investor, has a long history of investing in South Australia. In fact, he claims that his business has contributed millions to the state’s economy. “We had a good relationship with South Australia and they allowed us to invest millions and millions and millions of dollars into their state,” he said in the Instagram video.
The Allegations: Unlawful Lottery Operation
Portelli is facing nine counts of conducting/assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery, while his company LMCT+ is facing 10 counts of the same charge. But Portelli is adamant that he’s done nothing wrong. “We have met with governing bodies, we have met the gaming commissions, they’ve come out to see us, we’ve worked with them,” he explained. “They all come back with the same finding, that we are compliant.”
Why the Sudden Crackdown?
So why are South Australian authorities suddenly cracking down on Portelli’s business? Portelli claims that other states have investigated his subscription platform and cleared it, but South Australian authorities revoked his license “overnight”. “The only people, cowboys, I like to refer to them as, is South Australia,” he said.
A Surprise Offer: “Call it Even”
In a surprising twist, Portelli appeared to offer to pay up to “call it even” in the Instagram video. “It’s a maximum penalty of $190,000. I’ll round it up to $200,000,” he said. “Call it even, and stop wasting peoples’ money.” It’s unclear whether this means Portelli intends to admit to the charges when he faces court in Adelaide on January 15.
What’s Next?
The case against Portelli is set to be heard in court, but it’s clear that he’s not going down without a fight. With his reputation and business on the line, this is one story that will be closely watched. Will Portelli be able to clear his name and continue to operate his business, or will South Australian authorities succeed in shutting him down?