Image: Inside of one of the houses sold on The Block 2024 (left), bought by 'Lambo Guy' Adrian Portelli (right, via Instagram)
Billionaire ‘Lambo Guy’ Adrian Portelli is set to face trial after he was accused of conducting an illegal lottery, over a promotion in which the major prize was a house from TV reality show The block or $3 million cash.
The 36-year-old is charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery in South Australia, while his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which trades under the name LMCT+, is charged with 10 counts of the same offence.
The charges, instigated by SA’s Consumer and Business Services, alleged Portelli’s business did not hold a licence to conduct the lotteries in SA.
Under SA law, any trade promotion lotteries with prizes exceeding $5000 require a licence to operate and entries must be free of charge.
“The major prize for the lottery was a property situated in Gisborne in the state of Victoria, as seen on the Australian television show The Block, or a cash prize of $3 million,” court documents state, as reported by The Guardian.
According to court documents, the incidents occurred between 29 January 2023 and 16 May 2024.
House Giveaway Scheme? ‘Lambo Guy’ Under Fire for 10 Allegedly Illegal Lotteries
Additionally, 7 News reports that the court documents details allegedly unlawful lotteries for 10 prizes, all exceeding $5000. These prizes include:
- a home seen on The Block in Gisborne, Victoria or a cash prize of $3,000,000
- a Devil Yellow HSV VZ vehicle, valued at more than $50,000
- a Toyota Landcruiser 79 Series vehicle with a Barcrusher 670c, valued about $228,000
- a cash prize of $250,000
- another Victorian property seen on The Block valued at approximately $2,900,000, or a cash prize of $2,500,000
- a home seen on The Block in Hampton East, Victoria, or a cash prize of $2,000,000
- a cash prize of $500,000
- a 2022 Toyota LC79 vehicle, valued about $150,000
- a Holden HSV WM Grange vehicle, valued about $40,000
- a property at Coomera Waters at the Gold Coast in Queensland valued at approximately $1,300,000, or a $1,200,000 cash prize
While giving away the prize “involved an element of chance”, Portelli allegedly failed to hold a licence needed to conduct the lottery in SA.
Portelli was dubbed “Lambo Guy” in 2022 after he arrived at a house auction for The Block show in a yellow Lamborghini.
9 News Sports Reporter Exits Role After Accepting $50 000 from Portelli
In an effort to change his public nickname, Portelli offered a $50 000 reward to the first television presenter who would refer to him as “McLaren Man” on air.
He reportedly gave Channel Nine presenter Alex Cullen $50 000 in cash, which ultimately led to Cullen’s departure from his role as a sports reporter at the network.
Last year, the billionaire spent $15 million to purchase all five homes on The Block.
Portelli will be set to face a two-day trial in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in September.
