A lottery scheme in Turks and Caicos was deemed such a failure it was scrapped after two and a half years.

Less than a year before Bermuda launched a study into its own lottery potential, TCI withdrew from the Caribbean Lottery amid complaints that hardly any cash spent on tickets by residents was finding its way back to the island.

Bermuda's Government has refused to reveal any details about the kind of lottery which could be introduced here, but one possibility is to join the Caribbean Lottery, which TCI took part in from March 2005 to December 2007.

According to the TCI's 'Weekly News', residents splashed out $220,000 a year in the hope of striking it rich — but only $43,000 found its way back to the government to be spent on community initiatives.

Turks and Caicos islanders didn't even get very lucky with individual wins as jackpots were usually scooped by gamblers elsewhere in the Caribbean.

It had been launched amid fanfare despite opposition from church leaders, with Premier Michael Misick — a close friend of Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown — promising it would generate funds for young people, sports and education.

Mr. Misick went as far as to claim individual winnings would boost the local economy by creating a form of wealth that people would invest in the island.

After attracting strong criticism it was finally axed, with Deputy Premier Floyd Hall telling WIV4 television news: "The lottery is a classic case of a business venture that's failed."

Confusingly, Caribbean Lottery lists both Bermuda and TCI on the Lottery News section of its website, along with Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and the United States Virgin Islands. The Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones said he had no idea why Bermuda was listed, while Caribbean Lottery did not respond to our questions yesterday.

A Mid Ocean News article about the inclusion of Bermuda on the website back in 2004 suggests it is not in fact a reference to Bermuda taking part in the lottery. The UK's national lottery gives 50 percent of the takings back to winners, with 28 percent invested in good causes, 12 percent to the government, and the rest to organisers Camelot, operating costs and in commission to retailers.