Supreme Ventures Limited said this week that it had successfully contained the threat from a rogue agent who, in the last week of November, was found to have printed and sold his own game tickets with intent to divert funds for personal use.

"We have dealt with the matter internally. It was one of our own agents," said an official from the group's communication unit who did not wish to be named.

She added that it was the first instance of fraud noted since the start of 2009.

"We placed notices in the paper to let people know that this was being done because it was one of our own agents," the official stated. She said that the perpetrator was located outside of the Corporate Area, but did not specify the parish.

The fraudulent ticket run, she said, was printed on white paper. The real SVL game ticket is printed on pink and white stock with a money chest motif.

The fraudulent tickets also did not carry game regulations and guarantees printed on the back.

Alert gamers

According to the communications officer, the print run was not restricted to the Cash Pot game alone, which is most popularly played and is the chief source of revenue in its portfolio of games.

"It was not specifically Cash Pot," she said.

"The advertisement was just to alert people because it was from one of our agents outside the Corporate Area. It is matter that we have dealt with internally. No reports have been made to the police."

Supreme Ventures fields five games: Super Lotto, Cash Pot, Lucky 5, Dollaz, Lotto and Pick 3, whose prices ranges from $250 to $10.

Lottery gaming contributes 88 per cent to the company's income stream, which also includes slot machines/gaming lounges, phone-card sales and remittance services.

In 2009, SVL introduced the Super Lotto with a starting jackpot of US$2 million and ticket price of J$250.

In recent times, as well, it doubled the starting jackpot on its flagship Lotto game to $15 million, while simultaneously increasing the ticket price to $50.

Cash Pot, the company's most popular game, can be bought for $10.

avia.collinder@gleanerjm.com