This is not a loyalty program-specific topic but it is the lifeblood of many loyalty programs. Specifically, the highest class of loyalty program - the international 'whale' who drops millions in a visit.
Here's one to begin:
Gambler takes Crown to court for $35m [SMH]
A HIGH-ROLLER who gambled almost $1.5 billion in 15 months playing cards at Crown Casino says he was lured there by executives who wanted to exploit his pathological gambling addiction.
Crown regularly flew Harry Kakavas from his former home on the Gold Coast to Melbourne in its Gulf Stream jet so he could gamble, the court heard.
On several flights the pilot, on Crown's behalf, gave Mr Kakavas a box of "lucky money," between $30,000 and $50,000 each time, to get him started.
The court heard the casino owner, James Packer, personally approved the cash gifts, which were kept secret from his father, Kerry Packer, to avoid trouble.
Mr Kakavas claims that Mr Williams told him "Kerry Packer is the biggest gambler in the world and he does not get cash given to him to play at the casino".
The gambler (problem or social gambler, according to each side in the case) was banned from Sydney's casino and a key issue in the story was the alleged plot by Crown to make up a letter, supposedly by the gambler, asking to be unbanned, which was personally taken to him to sign.
This was after an alleged e-mail by the COO to get him reinstated as a result of his dropping $3-4 million at the Bellagio the previous week.