The Guyana Lottery Company (GLC) on Friday evening officially opened its new Blast Gaming Centre.
The $84 million facility is located on Mandela Avenue, East Ruimveldt, and is the company’s first gaming centre under the “Blast” brand.
During the opening ceremony, GLC General Manager Tracy Lewis told special invitees that the facility has been in the works for quite some time and houses a total of 35 Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) gaming machines. The facility also houses a sports betting room under the Let’s Bet sports brand.
“This $84 million facility houses a total of 35 VLT machines. We have 14 on this floor and 21 on the first floor. We have our virtual sports betting room of the Let’s Bet sports brand and really it’s a one stop shop,” Lewis said.
The facility, she noted, will also offer food and drinks for gamers and patrons and also mentioned that those going to the center can expect excellent customer service in an enjoyable and secure environment.
“I want you to remember this is our own, this is Guyanese, [and] every ticket that is purchased here will benefit Guyanese,” she added.
In relation to COVID-19 measures, Lewis stated that all the necessary protocols are in place and social distancing rules will allow for 60 persons to full capacity in the building.
Giving a tour of the facility, Blast’s General Manager Sean Bhola revealed that the ground floor of the facility would be considered all-inclusive as there is a bar along with the sports betting section.
He added that the first floor is exclusively for gaming and there are 21 gaming systems installed. He noted that there are a mixture of designs on that floor to allow for persons to either play in groups, as a couple and even individually. “The atmosphere is intended to be cozy,” he revealed, while adding that the configuration allows for gamers to be physically separated at all times in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.
Bhola explained that out of the eight different games on each system, gamers can win up to $350,000 cash. “There are eight games that we are offering. Every machine has the same eight games so you don’t have to wait on a machine to be available, once you get in and there is a machine available and it has been sanitized then you can play,” he said.
He further noted that the demand for such a facility is what led to them choosing the location even as he added that the company would like to bring “Blast” to every community. “This kind of high level entertainment is needed in this community and we’re very proud to be able to do this,” Bhola said.
Subsequent to the tour being completed, members of the public were allowed into the facility where one excited gamer became the first winner. The young man struck luck while playing the “Loads of Loot” game on the system and won himself $200,000.
Meanwhile, a portrait of Guyanese footballer Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson was unveiled in the Let’s Bet sports betting room and Richardson was invited to sign the portrait. Let’s Bet brand ambassador Rawle Toney stated that the brand has been giving back to sports in Guyana and decided that it was only fair to pay homage to great Guyanese players while they are alive and active.
Toney said that the company tries to ensure that the brand remains Guyanese and authentic.
