Betty receiving her cheque
By Mabinty M Kamara
Betty Hooks, a middle aged woman, has made history by becoming the first female winner of the ongoing Mercury International 4/50 jackpot lottery.
Betty, a married woman, won Le 208 million. She was presented her money last Monday. The win has been described by the Managing Director of the betting company as the ‘biggest’ ever in the history of betting in the country.
This amount comes as a huge boost to the winner, amidst the stiff economic condition in the country.
During the presentation of the cheque at a ceremony in the company’s headquarters on Siaka Steven Street in Freetown, Martin Micheal said:
“This is a life changing amount that has been won today and I can assure you that it is not going to be the end. I am sure this is just the first of many more winnings.”
Betty was presented with a cheque of just over Le 187 million after deduction of a mandatory 10% tax by the National Revenue Authority.
During her address, she advised fellow women to play the lottery and encourage their husbands as well to play. She explained the difference this win would add to her life and the role her husband played in her latest achievement.
“I believe this money will change my life for the good. I give thanks to God, Mercury and to my husband. If I am a winner of this lottery today it’s all because of him, because I was not a fan of Mercury and so I used to frown at him whenever he spent time to study for Mercury, until he succeeded in convincing me. So we have been in it together for quite sometime now,” she said.
She further explained that even when she won, she had to be alerted by her husband.
“It was my husband who called me to ask if I played today and I said yes and so he gave me the result for that day and I saw that I was the winner.”
Chairman of Mercury International, Samir Hassanyeh, advised the winner to make judicious use of the money.
“Today marks a milestone in the history of betting in Sierra Leone and I asked that you make judicious use of the money. I am glad that a woman has won such an amount from us,”he said.
The 450 jackpot was introduced by the betting company in March this year.
Betty becomes the third winner of the jackpot.
Her win is certain to inspire a new shade of the population, particularly women, to get interest in the game.
© Politico 12/07/16
