On Friday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court delivered a verdict that's sent shockwaves through Australia's prize draw industry. Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, the company that operates LMCT+ Giveaways, was found guilty on 10 counts of conducting unlawful lotteries in South Australia between January 2023 and May 2024. Adrian Portelli, the high-profile founder known as "Lambo Guy," was acquitted of all charges.
Here's what you need to know.
The core issue: LMCT+ was running ten separate lotteries in South Australia without the required permits or licences. Australian states treat gambling and lotteries seriously - you need explicit approval from the regulator in each state before you can legally operate. LMCT+ didn't have it for these ten draws, and prosecutors proved that beyond doubt.
The sentence: The company now faces a $40,000 fine. That's the financial consequence, but the reputational damage is arguably bigger. Being found guilty of running unlawful lotteries is serious stuff. It doesn't go away.
Why Adrian Portelli wasn't convicted remains unclear from the public record, but Magistrate Melanie Burton concluded there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict him personally of the offences. That's different from being cleared - it means the Crown couldn't prove beyond reasonable doubt that he personally directed or authorised the unlawful conduct. The company, however, took the fall.
What this means for LMCT+ members right now:
If you've entered an LMCT+ draw, especially within that January 2023-May 2024 window, you should be thinking about a few things. First, any draws run during that period were technically unlawful. Whether that affects your eligibility to claim a prize if you've won is a legal grey area - you'd want advice specific to your state and the specific draw. Second, LMCT+ is still operating, but now with a felony-style conviction on its record. That affects how seriously regulators will watch them going forward.
South Australia has stricter lottery rules than some other states. NSW, Victoria, and Queensland have clearer licensing pathways for promotional lotteries and giveaways. SA has historically been tougher, which partly explains why LMCT+ ran into trouble there. If you're an LMCT+ member in other states, you're on different regulatory ground - but the conviction still casts a shadow.
The bigger picture: This verdict reinforces something that's been quietly happening across Australia's prize draw space. Regulators are cracking down. The days of operating in grey areas and hoping no one notices are ending. Both big operators and new entrants are facing closer scrutiny.
For readers who enter draws regularly, the takeaway is straightforward: stick with operators with established track records, transparent operations, and clear regulatory approval. RSL Art Union, Mater Lotteries, and Vincere have all been tested through regulatory approval processes and haven't faced convictions like this. That's not a guarantee of perfection, but it's a useful signal.
If you're an LMCT+ member and you've got questions about your eligibility, your membership status, or you want to know if you're protected after winning something, contact them directly and ask for written confirmation. And if you're thinking about joining or re-joining, factor this verdict into your decision. The conviction is public record and it matters.