By Karena Bennett – Jamaica Observer – March 9, 2018
Lotteries company Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) has signed an agreement with the Guyana Gaming Authority.
The agreement should see SVL opening up gaming operations in Guyana, a market currently dominated by the Princess Hotel and Casino and affiliate of the Canadian Bank Note Company, Guyana Lottery. Guyana Marriott is also looking to get a toehold into the market.
SVL, in a statement to shareholders on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, said the agreement with Guyana Gaming Authority is subject to a confidentiality clause, and in this regard, will make full disclosure of its plans for the market as soon as SVL is able and permitted to.
When the Jamaica Observer tried to contact President and CEO of SVL, Ann-Dawn Young Sang on its interest in the country with population of 782,225; the newspaper was told she was off the island.
It’s not clear if the Guyana agreement is part of ideas put forward by at least one newly appointed director Gary Peart to boost revenue earnings. Last October, Peart told journalists that he is confident that the lottery and gaming company could, in months, increase profit by $1 billion under the new board of directors.
“We have some ideas, which ultimately we will discuss with the other board members and if we get consensus around it, it will help the company forward. I’m sure that when we go in they will also have their ideas which we can always discuss and that’s what makes a company strong, when the leadership of the company is constantly looking at different ways for it to grow,” he told the Caribbean Business Report during an emergency press conference last year.
Statistics from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission detailed the local gaming industry to rake in revenues of $135.6 billion in 2015/16; dominated by video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming products, which grew considerably by $16.7 billion or 22 per cent. By contrast, 19-and-under gaming operations, the majority of which are located outside of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, had revenues of $1.422 billion which was $12 million less than the previous year.
Lottery products accounted for 30 per cent of the gaming sector, netting $34.1 billion, $1.3 billion decrease or 4 per cent less than the comparative fiscal period. The betting sector, which comprises horse-racing and sports betting, grew by 6 per cent during this period, totaling $184.6 million and $317.3 million respectively.
Of the $135 billion industry; SVL Group recorded revenue totalled $45 billion for its financial year ended 2016, a two per cent increase over prior year’s result. The company noted in its financial report that the growth was mainly driven by Personal Identivation Number (PIN) code products which grew 26 per cent. However, cash pot revenues fell by $429.214 million, attributable to a low payout trend.
Currently, SVL has Super Lotto as the Group’s only multi-jurisdictional game. Company financials showed that Super Lotto continue to contribute positively to the portfolio with sales increasing by $22.735 million or 4 per cent in 2016; Jamaica and the Dominican Republic being the largest contributors to revenue. Jackpots were won in Jamaica and St Maarten in 2016, and in Jamaica and Barbados (twice) in 2015.
Aside from that SVL aires international horse-racing for locals to bet on.
Reports from Guyana list games such as ‘Lotto Supa 6,’ ‘Lucky 3,’ ‘Daily Millions,’ and ‘Draw De Line’; along with a range of popular ‘scratch’ games as gaming products currently offered by the Guyana Lottery Company. Additionally, Guyana Lottery was recently handed a five-year renewable contract that allows it to introduce new games using Video Lottery Teller Machines such as casino slot machines and online gambling.
Consequently, Guyana will be SVL’s first venture outside of Jamaica not operated under the multi jurisdictional licence.
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Article Link: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-report/svl-to_127310
Supreme Ventures Changes Lives With Donations
The Gleaner – February 16, 2018
Seven families across the island now have a place to call home as result of a donation by Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) in May 2017 to the Food For the Poor (FFP) 5K Walk/Run event. The annual 5K is the main local fundraising vehicle for FFP’s housing initiative.
In addition to the first house, which SVL team members helped to build for Beverly Foote, in Irish Pen, St Catherine, in July of last year, homes were also built throughout the year for Calvin Walters in Pennant, Clarendon; Tameka Lawson in Trinityville, St Thomas; Marcia Ormsby in Bartons, St Catherine; Debbie-Ann Whyte in Spanish Town, St Catherine; Cordella Edwards in Guys Hill, St Mary; and Conroy Stanley in Race Course, Clarendon.
Foote, who was formerly incarcerated at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, applied for the house while she was still behind bars. She said that even though she was serving time, she was still responsible for her eight children, who lived in a dilapidated structure.
Retired construction worker Calvin Walters said that his FFP house came after a five-year wait in a crumbling board structure.
“I refused to apply for the house for a long while, but I realised I couldn’t do it on my own, so I applied. It took five years, and I almost gave up when I saw two persons in my neighbourhood apply after me and get through before me, but I exercised patience, and God has been good,” he said.
MOVED TO TEARS
Development and marketing manager at Food For The Poor Jamaica Marsha Burrell said that Supreme Ventures’ coming on board as a contributor was serendipitous.
“When I saw that Supreme Ventures had come on board as a sponsor, tears came to my eyes. It was just at the right time. It takes so little to give a family a home, and it’s so much easier for persons who want to contribute to work with an organisation that is equipped like Food For The Poor,” Burrell said.
“Our hearts were really filled with joy when we handed over the keys to Miss Bev (Foote). We were just so moved to see what it meant to her and her family. To know that six other families were blessed in the same way is a blessing to us as well,” said assistant vice-president, group corporate communications, Simone Clarke-Cooper.
She added that the company is co its role as a good corporate citizen and would be continuing to strengthen its focus on its corporate social responsibility efforts in 2018.
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Article Link: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20180216/supreme-ventures-changes-lives-donations
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Corporate Hands: Supreme Ventures Changes Lives – The Gleaner
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First lotto winner of 2018 takes $71m
Jamaica Observer – Thursday, March 08, 2018
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Supreme Ventures welcomed its first Lotto winner for 2018 today, when W Morris came forward with a winning ticket for draw #1450 won on Wednesday, February 28.
Morris who hails from St Catherine won with numbers 02, 05, 06, 07, 25, 28 and bonus ball 35.
Forty-seven-year-old Morris says he is over the moon with his $71 million win. His significant other, who accompanied him to claim his millions, says it was she who purchased the ticket and discovered that it won the $71 million jackpot.
“Someone told me that a ticket from Barry G’s bar won the Lotto, but he gave me a wrong number and I thought we just caught five. I said I was going to look for myself because people don’t always say the right thing,” she said.
She checked the numbers and realised that they had won, called him at work and gave him the good news.
Morris and his girlfriend described their life before his win as a struggle. Morris, who returned to Jamaica after spending several years overseas, said he had just gone into business for himself a few months ago and has an additional job to make ends meet.
Morris says while he plays all the games offered by Supreme Ventures, he has had too many near misses to count. He says he had “caught” five numbers from a previous Lotto draw and the $7,000 prize went towards his airfare to migrate, many years ago. However, his close encounter with a Super Lotto jackpot of $172 million still stings to this day.
With a new jackpot of $71 million to consider, Morris says he has big plans for his business and a home for his family.
Article Link: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/First_lotto_winner_of_2018_takes_$71m
‘Mystery' $49-million Lotto Winner Comes Forward
Jamaica Observer – January 12, 2018
The last Lotto jackpot winner for 2017, S O’Meally, holds a symbolic cheque at the presentation for the $49-million jackpot won on Wednesday, December 6. O’Meally waited four weeks before coming forward with the winning ticket with the numbers 07, 09, 16, 21, 23, 36 and Bonus Ball 05 for draw #1426. The cheque presentation took place Wednesday at the SVL Corporate Office in New Kingston.
SUPREME Ventures on Wednesday finally presented its latest Lotto winner — S O’Meally — with the $49-million prize won for draw #1426.
O’Meally, the last Lotto winner for the year 2017, left Jamaica guessing for more than four weeks after failing to claim the $49-million jackpot after it was announced that the jackpot had been hit.
O’Meally, who bought the winning ticket in Linstead, St Catherine, said that it was in gearing up to buy tickets for another draw that the realisation came after checking the previously bought numbers — 07, 09, 16, 21, 23, 36 and bonus ball 05.
“I just searched my bag and I found the ticket as my friend was searching online to find out what was the winning number from the draw. I looked at it and I went back into my room and I thought I just had some familiar numbers in that line as usual. Anyway, I went for the ticket and when I looked at the numbers I came out the room and said ‘I won’! It was unbelievable to me that finally, I’m a winner,” O’Meally said.
O’Meally, who has been buying Lotto tickets for 20 years, said numbers bought usually come in dreams and these winning Lotto numbers were no different.
“The numbers that I won with were actually individuals, like seven — Married Woman, nine — Married Man, 16 — The Young Girl and 23 – The Bad Girl. The dream was about a family gathering and those were the persons sitting there, so I just wrote them down,” O’Meally said.
While many people purchase numbers as a source of enjoyment, O’Meally was convinced that one day the dream numbers would hit it big and win.
“I’ve always been close and I always miss, sometimes because of misinterpretation. One time I lost because I played someone as 16 when they were really 21, that was the match 5 and Bonus Ball. I’ve been playing from before there was an SVL terminal in Linstead, I used to go to Spanish Town to buy lottery tickets.”
Now that the dream has been realised, O’Meally said the multimillion-dollar windfall will be a great financial springboard as family life has been a series of monetary ups and downs.
Aside from funding the children’s tertiary education, there are plans to start a business to ensure that the family makes the most of their new-found wealth.
“I’ll start a business and keep working on it and put some in a fixed deposit. This is the capital that I am going to live off of and the fixed capital won’t be needed until much later,” O’Meally said.
Unlike other jackpot dreamers who plan to purchase luxury cars and go on exotic vacations, O’Meally has no affinity for extravagance as a new house is the largest purchase on the cards.
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Article Link: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-8216-mystery-8217-49-million-lotto-winner-comes-forward_122231
02Jan
$49-million Lotto Winner Yet to Claim Prize
Jamaica Observer – December 31, 2017
Over three weeks have passed since the Lotto jackpot was hit and Supreme Ventures is still waiting for the winner to come forward to claim their $49-million prize, the company has said in a weekend statement.
The Lotto jackpot was hit on Wednesday, December 6, during the 8:25 pm draw, with the winning numbers 07-09-16-21-23 and Bonus Ball 36. The lucky ticket for draw number 1426 was purchased at Rick B’s in Linstead, St Catherine.
Assistant vice-president, group corporate communications, Simone Clarke-Cooper says the winner has 90 days after the draw to claim the prize.
“Somebody has won $49 million to start the new year, but we must advise that there is a limit on the amount of time winners have to come forward to claim their jackpot. Players need to take very good care of their tickets because it is the only way to claim your prize,” she said.
She said that players, especially those who have won, should sign the back of their ticket and should keep their ticket safe until they present it at the nearest SVL Prize Payment Centre.
Should the winner not come forward to claim the prize, the money will be turned over to the Government’s Consolidated Fund.
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Article Link: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-49-million-lotto-winner-yet-to-claim-prize_121233?profile=1373