Government

Officials Hope New Lottery Game Will Reduce Illegal Gambling, Keep Lottery Money Within Territory

Will a new, sanctioned lottery game reduce instances of illegal gambling? That’s what authorities are betting on, as the V.I. Lottery launched "Caribbean Numbers" this week, which gives players an opportunity to win up to $20,000 by choosing numbers from 0-99. A partnership between the Caribbean Lottery and V.I. Lottery, the game took “months of extensive research” from the parties, according to Shelly-Ann Tonge, VI Lottery general manager, to determine exactly what players wanted from a new game in the USVI.  VI Lottery Executive Director Raymond Williams said the new game should discourage illegal gambling and like the other games, it has been designed and developed to keep the money within the economy. "The money stays here. If nothing else... the VI Lottery was designed and developed many years ago as an opportunity for entrepreneurship. It gave and it still gives today opportunities to our entire community," he said. “The money that you invest in our games and in these new gam...