game the system

present singular third person games the system · participle present gaming the system · participle past gamed the system · past gamed the system

1. To use the rules and procedures meant to protect a system in order to instead manipulate the system for a desired outcome.

   Near-synonyms: play the system, beat the system, work the system

   3 more examples

   Huge spikes in wholesale electricity prices in South Australia have been a result of energy companies “gaming” the system and exploiting their unusual market power to charge “monopoly rents”, according to an in-depth report by the Melbourne Energy Institute.

   2016 August 11, Michael Slezak, “Electricity price spikes caused by energy companies 'gaming' the system, report finds”, in The Guardian

   The moral appears to be that wealthy individuals can game the system, and if the pressure becomes unbearable they can make a settlement – otherwise off they go.

   2017 March 1, Prem Sikka, “Philip Green has shown the rich can game the system. We need to stop another BHS”, in The Guardian

   It’s incumbent on all of us to take a responsible approach and tell our constituents that tests are available in large numbers and the average distance travelled is 5.8 miles … And people should take this seriously and not game the system.

   2020 September 15, Mattha Busby, quoting Matt Hancock, “UK families having to 'hack' system to get coronavirus test”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: play the system, beat the system, work the system