By Marion Rion Bangura
Mercury International Betting Company has introduced a new end of year raffle campaign offering six major prizes with a combined advertised value of US$120,000, as the betting company expands its promotional activities ahead of the 2026 Christmas and New Year period.
The promotion, launched on Monday at Gigibonta along Lumley Beach Road, comprises separate Vegas and Sports Raffles, with prizes ranging from household and mobility items to a two-bedroom house.
The announcement comes after Mercury’s previous promotional campaign, during which the company said it awarded a house to a winner. At the latest launch, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Martin E. Michael said the new initiative forms part of the company’s continuing customer promotions and is intended to provide opportunities for eligible participants to compete for the advertised prizes.
Michael formally unveiled the Vegas Raffle, which is open to qualifying customers of the company’s online betting platform.
According to the company, the Vegas category features three principal prizes: a JTour TI 2026 model car, an automatic scooter and an 85 inch Smart Television.
The company also announced a separate Sports Raffle targeted at customers participating in its sports-betting platform. Its three advertised grand prizes are a two-bedroom house at Taff Salone, a TVS tricycle, commonly known as a Kekeh, and a Lifan motorbike.
Mercury said the promotion officially commenced at 2:00 p.m. on 24 August 2026 and is scheduled to run until 3 January 2027, with the prize handover ceremony planned for January 2027.
Speaking about the campaign, Michael said the company expected the latest promotion to generate significant interest among its customers and described the prizes as part of Mercury’s broader end-of-year promotional programme.
He said the company would proceed with the draw process and prize distribution according to the terms of the promotion.
Mercury Deputy Online Manager Octavious Jackson explained some of the participation requirements. He said customers must first establish an online account before they can participate in the promotion.
Jackson stated that the advertised Vegas Raffle ticket costs NLe250, while the Sports Raffle ticket costs NLe50. He also said customers could receive bonuses under the company’s promotional arrangements.
The announcement places particular emphasis on the difference between the two raffle categories, with the Vegas option carrying a higher ticket price and the Sports Raffle positioned at a lower entry cost.
However, participation in betting and raffles carries financial risk, and promotional prizes do not change the underlying nature of gambling. Customers are therefore expected to participate responsibly and within their means, while observing applicable rules and eligibility requirements.
Mercury’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Komba, said the company views its promotional activities as part of its engagement with customers.
He described the initiative as an effort to provide entertainment and opportunities for customers to participate in the company’s promotional programmes.
Chief Operations Officer Beresford Burnce Coker, meanwhile, linked the latest promotion to the company’s broader emphasis on customer relations and service delivery.
Coker said customer loyalty remains important to Mercury’s operations and that bonuses and promotional initiatives form part of the company’s strategy for maintaining relationships with its existing customer base.
He also highlighted the role of Mercury’s staff in delivering services to customers and said the company intended to remain active in the Sierra Leonean market.
The launch comes at a period when promotional campaigns are becoming increasingly visible across Sierra Leone’s betting and gaming industry, particularly around major sporting seasons and the end of year period.
For Mercury, the latest initiative combines sports betting and casino-style online entertainment with a high value prize structure, creating two separate promotional tracks for its customer base.
The company said the six advertised grand prizes collectively represent a value of US$120,000, although individual prize eligibility, qualification requirements and other conditions are subject to the terms governing the promotion.
The raffle is expected to remain active throughout the festive period, with the final qualification period ending on 3 January 2027.
The company has indicated that the grand prize presentation will take place in January, when successful winners are expected to be formally presented with the advertised prizes.
As the campaign progresses, attention will likely centre on participation, compliance with the published promotional conditions and the eventual selection and verification of winners.
Mercury’s latest campaign consequently represents another major promotional initiative by one of Sierra Leone’s established betting operators, combining six high value prizes with an end-of-year customer engagement programme that will run for more than four months.
