Cash Pot chaos - SVL blames lights for confusion about game draw

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), operators of the daily Cash Pot game, is blaming studio lights for the confusion about which number was played in one of its draws.

At the 10:30 a.m. draw on Sunday April 14, the number 28 ball was selected.

However, there is an image being circulated in the social media space which appears to show the number 23.

Only ticket holders who purchased 28 were able to collect winnings. That angered gamers who purchased 23.

SVL's Chief Marketing Officer, Heather Goldson, in a release sent to THE STAR, said SVL is aware of the controversy.

"We acknowledge that the photo appears to display a ball with a number that differs from the one officially announced; this was due to the lighting in the studio. There is no discrepancy between the number drawn by our automated machine and the official results."

SVL said there are guidelines and protocols which govern how it operates, citing that Sunday's draw, like all others, was compliant with the established regulations of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), that govern all SVL draw operations.

"We want to categorically state that the draw on Sunday, April 14 followed all established procedures put in place by SVL as well as those of our regulatory partners, the BGLC and the independent auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers," the release said.

Our news team checked with a Cash Pot operator on Maxfield Avenue who told THE STAR that "There were more buyers for 'black man' (23) than there were for 'fowl' (28). People who buy 23 come with dem ticket but they were not paid. The machine only allows us to pay for 28."

The operator said that customers were livid.

"Dem cuss and gwan bad, say a 23 come up pon dem TV, and how we a tief and a beta dem go bandooloo (illegal Cash Pot). Me can't do nothing, all threaten dem threaten me. A gambling, enuh, and if confusion deh ina it, people a go vex over dem money," the agent told THE STAR.