MORE LOTTO WON’T WORK
FLASHBACK: Players await their turn at a National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) outlet at JTA Supermarket, Carlton Centre, San Fernando, to purchase Lotto tickets.
A third weekly Lotto draw will not generate additional revenue for the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), president of the Electronic Lotto Agents Association of Trinidad and Tobago Allen Campbelle has said.
Campbelle’s comments came yesterday after NLCB chairman Ken Emrith said on Sunday that the board is considering introducing a third weekly Lotto draw.
According to Campbelle, Lotto sales are driven primarily by the size of the jackpot, rather than the number of draws.
“Having three draws, three draws on Lotto, wouldn’t create increase in sales for the NLCB,” he said.
“The motivation in the Lotto. It’s not the number of days, it’s the quantum of the jackpot that attracts the gambling,” he added.
Reiterating that an additional draw would not increase the overall revenue generated by the NLCB, he said it could instead affect sales of other gaming products.
“So, adding another draw would not increase the total amount of money that NLCB will get.”
Asked whether the proposed change would benefit agents, he said: “It’s not going to benefit us.”
However, proprietor of the Lotto booth where the winning ticket was purchased, Erica Holder-Ali, welcomed the possibility of a third draw, saying it could encourage more people to participate.
Holder-Ali is still celebrating after a Lotto player won the $24 million jackpot over the weekend after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket at her business on El Dorado Road, Tunapuna.
“I am feeling extra special and extra blessed,” she said, adding that there is a lot of love coming from her minimart and Lotto booth.
She described the business as a community spot that everyone knows and patronises.
Holder-Ali believes the $24 million win could also draw more players to the location, which may now be viewed as a lucky spot.
She said it is not the first time someone has struck luck at her store, referring to the Big Ride game.
“They will say this is the winning Lotto booth, so everybody will take a chance here,” she said.
Holder-Ali recalled that as the jackpot increased, the number of people playing also increased, resulting in higher sales.
Campbelle, meanwhile, said the NLCB should focus on tackling illegal gambling rather than introducing another Lotto draw.
“What will increase the revenue of the thing is the getting rid of the illegal Play-Whe operations.”
Campbelle said the association had previously served on a committee at the NLCB and claimed illegal gaming generated about $23 billion.
“Our estimate, based on the information that was supplied to us…$23 billion. Remember, I said that we were on a committee, an illegal gaming committee of NLCB.”
Campbelle said the association has several concerns about the gaming industry but was denied a meeting with the NLCB after the board requested that it submit its membership forms.
He contended that the association does not need to provide that information as it is not a union.
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