Who Will Win the Million-Dollar Boledo on Saturday?

Belize is buzzing with excitement as the first-ever one-million-dollar Boledo draw approaches, just in time for the Christmas holidays. Unlike other fun games with big cash prizes, this draw requires players to bet on four numbers, all of which must be drawn to win the jackpot. The draw is set for Saturday, and anticipation is high. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali visited 88 Shopping Plaza to check in with some shoppers. She found that sales were slow, but the excitement was still palpable. Here’s her report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Who will win the government’s million-dollar Boledo on Saturday? This first-of-its-kind event will be drawn at 10 AM, but the winner(s) won’t take home the full million. There’s a fifteen percent deduction, which will be shared among the winners or given to a single winner if there’s only one. This special Boledo draw requires buyers to pick four numbers from zero to nine, like the Sunday lottery jackpot. However, today, there weren’t many people trying their luck at 88 Shopping Plaza on Central American Boulevard. The store’s cashier, Shannon Tan, told us that sales have been mostly slow for this special Boledo draw.

 

Shannon Tan, Cashier, 88 Shopping Plaza

“I see a couple people buying from here. Like I buy the most? People buy like that? Like a whole list? It all depends. Some people buy a lot, some people buy like one or two.  It still sells, but Boledo sells more.”

 

Marion Ali

“Do you think maybe the price has something to do with it? Five dollars for a ticket?”

 

Shannon Tan

“Mmm, no.”

 

We met the man known in Belize as the “Fire Eater” outside the store. He said that he bought his tickets a few days ago.

 

Ronald Reneau, Boledo Buyer

“I have about three of them, but I’ve got three. That’s secured. Yeah, that’s secured. I don’t want lose it if I take it out. But I buy already.”

 

Marion Ali

“How did you come up with the combination?”

 

Ronald Reneau

“Well, I used my grandchildren, my mother, my auntie and people that are close to me, my family. There’s so many to use. My mother died, my brother died, my uncle died. I have a daughter died, I have a son. I use the age, some of the age of them that already died. I done win already, and that’s my belief.”

 

Marion Ali

“So I need not waste my money?”

 

Ronald Reneau

“Well, I buy just to make sure. Yeah, but I thank God, and if I don’t win it, somebody will win it.”

 

Ellen Gentle told us that she’s not interested in the offer.

 

Ellen Gentle, Belize City Resident

“No, girl, I don’t want to put myself in that because, you know, a lot of people deh fi win that.”

 

Marion Ali

“Yes, but every week people win the lottery.”

 

Ellen Gentle

“Yeah, but still, I don’t think my luck is there.”

 

Marion Ali

“You ever win a lottery?”

 

Ellen Gentle

“No, never, never Marion.”

 

Marion Ali

“You think you have numbers you would have maybe win though, and you’re just afraid to buy it?”

 

Ellen Gentle

“Yeah, you got that right.”

 

Marion Ali

“You want to share the numbers?  Maybe somebody out there buy it and win and come back and say…”

 

Ellen Gentle

“No man, no man, no man.”

Patrick Gordon says he will have to take a little time and come up with the winning combination.

 

Patrick Gordon, Boledo Buyer

“Whenever I go back home, then I will do.”

 

Marion Ali

“You will do what? Come up with the combinations?”

 

Patrick Gordon

“Yeah. Well, the combination eena thousands of people minds. As long as ih come eena my mind fi win it.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.