"21 de la Suerte" Sparks Clash Between JPS GM and Board
We have all seen the pretty young girls on the street with their tight jeans and yellow t-shirts promoting the latest lottery to hit the streets of Costa Rica called "21 de la Suerte".

The game of chance which is owned by a Costa Rican company with Brazilian capital has been on sale for a couple of months and claims to raffle prizes to only tickets sold and offers a part of its profits to the Hogares Crea, a rehabiliation centre for youths operated in various centres around the country.

The general manager of the Junta de Protección Social (JPS) - the official government agency that runs lotteries - Luis Polinaris, paid "21" a visit yesterday, saying that the game does not have the approval of the JPS. However, the president of the board of directors of the JPS says that "21" was given a permit and is supported by article 2 of the Ley de Rifas y Loterías.

The board president said that general manager cannot unilaterally make a decision without first consulting with the board of directors as in the case of "21".

However, the JPS board nominated a commission to report on the effect of "21" on the national lotteries if there is legal grounds to give such approval to an outside lottery operator and are questioning the two year permit that "21" was granted.

The preoccupation of the JPS board is to ensure that the Hogares Crea receive the promised funds.

To ensure that the public does not get confused, the JPS made it clear that the "21" game is not operated by the JPS and it will not answer to any prize claims.

Polinaris insists that the responsibility to authorize a lottery is well within the general manager's functions and not the board of directors and his office never gave "21" any permits, denying claims that the sale of "21" is affecting the JPS or state lotteries.

The operators of the "21" game have been slow in producing the permit that the general manager is requesting. Meanwhile, the lottery continues to be sold on the streets and malls.