In the end she stole nearly as much as the major lottery prize she was trying to win but instead as much as A$7,880 a day into buying the tickets.
Annie Donnelly, 38, of Farmingville, faces four to 12 years in prison for stealing the money from her employers, Great South Bay Surgical Associates.
Donnelly, who is being held on A$197,018 bail, also will have to repay the money. She pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny.
"She obviously had a gambling problem," said the assistant district attorney, obviously.