Fortuna criminale

English sample and synopsis available

An unquenchable thirst for redemption in an untold true story of the most spectacular scam perpetrated against the Italian state. Through accurate documentation and, above all, thanks to the first-hand testimony of one of the protagonists of the affair, Fausto Gimondi reconstructs and recounts the surprising and exciting story of the great lotto scam of the late 1990s.

A crime story without brutality, without victims, without bloodshed. A crime, certainly, but also the great revenge against the system enacted by those who are often victims of the system.

In the sprawling northern outskirts of Milan, dreams carry the intoxicating aroma of wealth. The Lotto draw, the Italian regional lottery, it’s a Saturday night ritual, a date with destiny.
With modest expectations for the future, Mario’s life has trundled along, seemingly unremarkable. But all of this is about to change dramatically when fate conspires to entwine his path with a motley crew of misfits. This eccentric gang has unearthed the Holy Grail—a way to manipulate the Milan Lotto wheel draws. For three incredible years, their scam  rains down thousands of winnings, quietly funneled through a network of betting shops. Hundreds of millions of dollars were thought to have been siphoned off by the organisers of the scam, who bribed the blindfolded children to do their bidding in selecting balls which had been tampered with, rather than picking out balls at random. Mario ascends to the ranks of billionaires and amasses a colossal fortune. But as the dream unfolds in all its glorious splendor, the threads of their intricate web begin to unravel because everyone wants its slice of the pie.
In this riveting true story, the siren song of redemption beckons with every twist and turn, but at what harrowing cost?