Gambler who stole millions sues casinos

A Dundas woman who embezzled more than $7 million from her former employer to feed a gambling addiction has launched a $10-million lawsuit against the province and two Niagara casinos.

Christine Papakyriakou, 52, pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 Thursday in St. Catharines court in what is believed to be Niagara's biggest fraud case. Much of the money stolen from Grimsby-based Andres Wines, now known as Andrew Peller Ltd., went to cover Papakyriakou's massive gambling debt, which skyrocketed to between $5 million and $10 million by 2007.