Lottery Outrage: Number 11’s Unavailability Sparks Social Media Backlash

The unavailability of the number 11 led to some irate lottery buyers on Sunday.  For some, it was unexpected and for some conspiracy theorists, there was some hanky panky at play.  Some took to social media to vent on the matter as we hear in this report from Reporter Vejea Alvarez.

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Dozens of Lottery buyers were outraged on Sunday morning when they experienced an unusual hiccup in their weekly routine. Many were met with an unexpected response when trying to purchase the number 11. Instead of being able to buy the number they received a notification saying it was sold out. This has left many wondering if there’s a change in how the game is being run by the newly established Belize Government Lotteries Limited. However the company’s managing director Janelle Espat says it wasn’t the first time in the game’s long running. 

Janel Espat, Managing Director, BGLL: “Persons that regularly buy Boledo would know that it is not anything new. Under the previous management of the Boledo shop owners would simply inform players when a number was sold out and no longer available for purchase. But what we have done is implement a feature within our software program that provides an automatic notice when a number is no longer available for purchase and so once that notice pops up it does not allow for the sale of the number to be made. So it’s simply a safeguard put in pace to minimize the risk of a very significant loss.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Many took to social media to express the discontent and concerns with the number being sold out as early as 9:30 in stores countrywide. And on the streets it was no different. One person who spoke to us on camera says it was the first time he had heard of such a thing.

Resident: “Never hear about that.”

Reporter: And how long have you been buying Boledo ? 

Resident: “I’ve been buying Boledo for like twenty plus years. I’m a real Boledo man.”

Reporter: You never yet heard a number sold out ? 

Resident: “I’ve never heard a number get sold out until now. This is news to me.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: While the company understands the skepticism of some faithful Boledo buyers Espat assured the public that everything is above board and in the best interest of the new owners, the Belizean people.

The number 11 was one of the missing numbers for this week.  Avid Boledo and lottery followers would know that missing numbers are important factors when deciding what number to buy.