> I don't want to argue about the exact semantics of the word theft and what kinds of "misuse of funds" it includes. Nothing went in his pocket; it wasn't embezzlement.
See, the law very much disagrees with you here. It went into his pocket, and from there on a card table at Vegas. The moment he had decided to use company money like this, it was taken from its rightful owner.
But the money stayed owned by the company the entire time. He bet it on behalf of the company.
Companies are allowed to make bets on things. And he was high up enough to be able to make that decision.
It went in his pocket, but it would have gone in his pocket if he was going to the office supply store too. That's not an issue.
But none of this explains why it's sociopathic. Most crimes don't rise to that bar. For example, embezzling money from a company that's already guaranteed to collapse and unable to make payroll is generally not sociopathic. Especially if it's some kind of technical embezzlement where you have no personal gain whatsoever.
See, the law very much disagrees with you here. It went into his pocket, and from there on a card table at Vegas. The moment he had decided to use company money like this, it was taken from its rightful owner.