Nine Share Million Dollar Lottery Jackpot

The Belize Government Lottery Limited has confirmed the successful drawing of its much-anticipated Million Dalla Jackpot, held on Saturday, December 20.  Lottery officials announced that the winning number for the draw was 4-4-8-5. A total of nine winning tickets were recorded, resulting in the $1,000,000 jackpot being shared equally, with each winner set to receive $111,111.11.  However, despite the excitement surrounding the draw, the company recorded an estimated loss of $85,000, attributed to reduced ticket sales in what marked the second year of the Million Dollar Jackpot promotion.  Director of the Belize Government Lottery Limited, Janel Espat, spoke with Love News on the outcome of the draw, confirming the winning details, the number of winners, and acknowledging the decline in sales compared to expectations.

Janel Espat, Managing Director, Belize Government Lotteries Limited: “Our total sales, unfortunately, again this year, we did not reach the $1 million mark. Our total sales were $916,910. We were hoping to sell over a million dollars so that we would have a profit available to make a donation to a charitable organization. But nevertheless, the sales were sufficient to maintain our payouts within our desired 70 to 72% So with that said, we still had of course, a million dollars to give away and there were nine winning tickets for the number drawn. The 4485 was the winning number for this year’s million dollar jackpot. So each person is taking home $111,111 and 11 cents. It’s non-taxable. All the winnings of the Belize government lottery games, the Bolído, the ordinary lottery, the Sunday Jackpot, and now the million dollar Jackpot are all tax free. I’m not mistaken we have one from the Orange Walk district, one from the Cayo district, one from the south I think Toledo District if I’m not mistaken, and all the others are from the Belize District including I think one person from one of the cayes. Had any of the winners purchased on the Fu We Boledo app or at the Fu We Boledo portal then the winnings would have been deposited directly to their account. In this case, all nine of the winning tickets were purchased from a subagent therefore, the winners must redeem their prize in person at the BGLL office in Belmopan and actually we’ve already had four people come in and pick up their cheques already for this morning.”

Espat also addressed questions about the future of the Million Dalla Jackpot, indicating whether the popular promotion is likely to continue next year.

Janel Espat, Managing Director, Belize Government Lotteries Limited: “Well, I can’t say that with certainty. The board of directors will make that decision whether this will be something that will be done annually or not. We were hoping that because this was our second year that the sales would have been higher. But unfortunately, I think as a group, we’ll have to get together and try to brainstorm and determine why sales are not as high as we would have anticipated them to be so the board will have to make that decision whether it continues or not.”

Reporter:  What’s the difference from last year’s sales to this year? 
Janel Espat, Managing Director, Belize Government Lotteries Limited: “$8,000. Last year we sold $924,000. And then in terms of redemption, I just want to mention that they can come to our office anytime during normal working hours, we’ll be here from eight to five every day, except on the 24th of December, that we will be here only until 12 noon and then will be closed the 25th to 26th and the 1st of January.”

Up to news time this evening, five of the nine winners had gone to the Belmopan office for the payout.  The Belize Government Lottery Limited has congratulated all winning ticket holders and is encouraging them to follow the established prize redemption procedures to ensure a smooth and timely payout./