March 4, 2016 By Victoria Saffa
Mercury International lottery and betting company yesterday introduced a new jackpot game called 4/50 jackpot. The new exciting lottery game will be available for sale at all retail outlets beginning the day of the launch and will be played three times per week.
Launching the new game, Editec Chief Kerry Dunkley said the new game is here in the country to put money in the pocket of lottery customers. “It is easy to play, making the game bigger and better. This is my fourth trip to Sierra Leone and every time I am here gives hope that the future is bright and the game of lottery is getting better,” said Dunkley.
Dunkley, aka ‘The Dunks’, said the invention of the new product was done some two years ago and that the new betting will not replace the existing game, but an additional product of the 5/90 lottery. “The invention of the new betting came about from customers’ feedback,” noted Dunkley, who added that the 4/50 lottery game is a jackpot game of huge profit.
Managing Director of Mercury International, Martin Michael, said the 4/50 jackpot is a rollover lottery game with the jackpot starting at Le45 million, adding that it will continue to grow until there is a winner.
He said draws will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 pm at the Siaka Steven Street office of the lottery company, as well as shown on several television stations. “Players must pick four numbers, between 1-50, and match four numbers on the draw to win the jackpot. Consolation prizes will be paid for two numbers, costing around sixteen thousand Leones for matching two numbers and three hundred and sixty thousand Leones for matching three numbers on the draw,” he said.
Since it was first launched in 2007, Mercury International has been a leisure outlet for people across Sierra Leone and provides employment for over 200 people. Mercury pride itself in giving back to the community through the Mercury International Charitable Foundation.
Mr. Michael said with the launch of the 4/50 jackpot game, the foundation aims to continue and expand the work it does amongst the communities. “With the rapid games, you will have different opportunities to play because the equipment that produce all of this betting will also produce a game called live betting and pre-live betting,” Mr. Michael added.
He said the introduction of the new product means they would now have four daily draws and 24 weekly draws, thus significantly increasing customers’ chance of winning more money and money betting options.
He said wining mercury guarantees immediate payment, but warned retailers not to sell mercury products to children below eighteen years. “Any retailer caught will be disciplined and removed from the game,” he warned.
“This is however another challenge as we have over 1,500 retailers and this means it will be very difficult to monitor. But as a company we are doing all we can to discourage retailers who sell mercury to under aged children,” he said and called on parents not to send their children to buy mercury products on their behalf, as it is against the law.
Marketing Manager Olubumi Kamara launched the new product video. He said the marketing team had already trained retailers within the Freetown municipality and provincial areas on how to operate the new game. He called on customers to take advantage of the game as it could earned them more money and opportunities.