Priest Arrested for Funneling Thousands into Church Funds for Candy Crush & Co.

In a rather unique scandal within the church, a U.S.-based priest found himself under arrest for embezzling over $40,000 in church funds, which he spent on mobile games, notably Candy Crush and Mario Kart Tour. The priest, Reverend Lawrence Kozak, was removed from his position at the St. Thomas More Church in November 2022 after an internal investigation uncovered an "astronomical amount of Apple transactions" made with the church's credit card.

Reverend Kozak confessed to law enforcement that he was trying to gain an advantage in the mobile titles he was playing and claimed to be in treatment for his addiction. He told investigators he did not intentionally use the church's funds for his microtransaction habit; instead, the transactions occurred because the church's credit card information was saved on his phone. Kozak has begun repaying the misappropriated funds, having returned $10,000 from his own money and sent an $8,000 check with an apology letter to his former parish.

While out on bail, Kozak's lawyer is currently examining the charges to discuss with authorities. This incident highlights the growing issue related to microtransaction spending in video games, which has become a focal point of concern across various demographics.

Microtransactions in video games are small, often in-game purchases that allow players to access new content or gain advantages. These can range from cosmetic items, like character skins, to gameplay elements that enhance the player's experience. The controversial aspect lies in their potential to create a 'pay-to-win' environment, encourage compulsive spending, and an overall negative impact on the gaming experience for those who choose not to spend additional money.

Candy Crush Saga, released in 2012 by King, is considered one of the precursors of the free-to-play mobile game model that heavily relies on microtransactions. Players can play for free but often face roadblocks that can be circumvented through spending real money. This game, along with others like the mobile version of Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour, symbolizes a shift in gaming business models towards ongoing revenue through in-game purchases.