Online bingo player stole to fund habit

She used the PayPoint system at the garage to make deposits into her Foxy Bingo and Mecca Bingo accounts after she could no longer use her credit cards due to mounting debts.

Preston was drawn into the world of online bingo by a friend's mother who she had moved in with after her marriage failed. The friend's mother was a big fan of online bingo and Preston was encouraged to register an account.

The payments from the PayPoint machine where made between August 16th and October 19th last year and the account would either be debited or credited depending on whether Preston had won or lost. Her activities where only uncovered when the owner decided to sell the business and the accountant noticed the shortfall.

Preston was sentenced to six months in jail.

Comments on the page of this story include a call for more stringent guidelines for advertising online bingo on TV which I personally think would make no difference. Online bingo sites make provisions for people with a gambling addiction but ultimately the player needs to realise they have a problem. Gambleaware and GamCare are also available to help if you think you have a problem with gambling of any form; be it on or offline.