Slot Machine Addiction Hurts All

No matter who it is that has the slot machine addiction, most everyone around them will be negatively affected by it. Whether it is simply a case of the person not showing up where they say that they will because they are hitting the slot machines, or if it involves stealing from you or someone you know to feed that slot machine addiction – everyone is hurt in the end.

However, some are hurt even more than others. Take for example the story of Sally Styles. Styles was addicted to slot machines and used the businesses that she did the books for to fund that addiction. The Windsor bookkeeper took more than $1.28 million from the businesses and lost it all at the slot machines.

The 72 year old took $517,000 from Bob Pedler Real Estate, $434,000 from Manor Realty, and $329,000 from Re/Max Capital Inc. She had been doing the books for the companies for the past seven years. While doing their books, Styles wrote herself checks that the companies knew nothing about.

Styles was sentenced on Friday to two years less a day on house arrest. Ontario Court Justice Micheline Rawlings said that she may not have used a gun, but she robbed them just the same. Styles was addicted to the slot machines at Caesars, formerly known as Casino Windsor.

She spent more than 30 hours a week playing the slot machines at the casino. She played all denominations – nickel, penny, quarter, losing her employers’ money. According to the casino, she lost roughly $200,000 a year and was one of the casino’s favorite customers. In addition to house arrest, her previous employers are suing her civilly. As she only has about $80,000 in assets – they are unlikely to see much in terms of repayment.

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