Brazilians Giving Up "21 de la Suerte" Lottery
Mire in controversy from the beginning and with its constant battles with the Junta de Protección Social de San José (JPS), the Comercializadora Paschoal S.A, the operator of the "21 de la Suerte" lottery, will be leaving the country. However, the game is expected to continue.

The move by Paschoal was taken because they say they had had enough with the JPS, who has been on their case rigth from the start.

The JPS is the only authorized promoter of lotteries in the country, though "21 de la Suerte" had received a special permit by the JPS board of directors that was followed with a dispute between the JPS manager who claims to be the only authorization for lottery permits and the board.

"Paschoal is somewhat disillusioned with everything that has happened here. We are leaving because we have been persecuted", said Zanoni Tavares, general manager of "21 de la Suerte".

Tavares added that the Hogares CREA will take over the game.

Although it is not known how much longer the Brazilians will stay in Costa Rica, Tavares did say that they will be around for a little longer to help Hogares CREA with the transition.

Tavares said that the experience has not been a very good one for them and that the company lost some us $500.000 dollars and has no way of recovering it.

"21 de la Suerte" is known for it outlandish style of selling lottery tickets. From scantily clad young women to cars mounted on a flatbed and megaphones shouting the sale of the tickets, the game had some initial success but ran aground when the conflict with the JPS began and ticket sales began to sag.

The "21 de la Suerte" was pulled of the market for some time and when it came back it did not find the customers, even with its offer of a 2x1 and the promise that only the winners would be only from the tickets sold that week.