Durham Crown Court heard Helen Patricia Walker took the cash from Buckingham Bingo in Peterlee, where she had worked for five years.
In addition to the theft she admitted another charge of fraud to the sum of £500, which was gained after cashing in vouchers normally handed out to entice customers into the club.
The 39-year-old, from Galloway Road, Peterlee, was paid £46,000 a year as manager of the Yoden Way bingo hall, but allowed her debts of £40,000 to escalate.
She had planned to sell her home to repay the money, but no cash was returned.
Jane Waugh, defending, said the practice of leaving a note detailing amounts borrowed from the safe was accepted among staff and the theft happened as Walker's relationship with her girlfriend broke down.
The court heard the missing money came to light when investigations were launched into other financial matters at the business, with the cash going during a 12-month period starting in August 2006.
In addition to £16,000 missing because of separate issues, they discovered an envelope with the amounts Walker owed jotted on the back.
Walker had become nervous when she found checks were going to be made, remarking to colleagues that if the note was found she would be "gone".
She was arrested on August 29 last year and made no reply when first questioned, but went on in a second interview to explain she did not intend to keep the cash.
The court heard Walker moved to Peterlee from Manchester five years ago and found a new partner in East Durham.
The theft began as their relationship broke down and Walker was only able to see their 19-month-old daughter at weekends – the court heard she is not the natural mother of the child.
The money was used to cover the cost of living as mortgage repayments increased and loans were called in by debtors.
Ms Waugh said Buckingham Bingo had "facilitated the theft" because of the way it operated, with the court told the practice was to leave IOUs in the safe carried out in view of other staff members.
She added: "For a couple of months, things in Miss Walker's life went wrong for her.
"She didn't deal with things, they got away from her and she let her debts get away from her.
"This is a woman who was trusted and because she was trusted she wrote it down.
"She wanted people to know she was doing it because she was going to pay it back.
Judge Guy Whitburn said: "I am urged to suspend the sentence of custody or give a community order, I cannot.
"You stole very large sums of money that you were responsible for.
"It is very difficult to see how you managed to spend do much in such a small amount of time."
He sentenced her to 15 months for the theft, with a further six months to be served concurrently for the charge of fraud.