Johannesburg, 30 Nov 2003
eBucks` online Lotto ticket sales got off to a low-key start last week, but the bank and the national lottery organiser are confident the scheme shows huge potential.
First National Bank`s eBucks service is the first to offer online sales of lottery tickets. Despite the risk of delays in processing purchases made online and public concerns about the security of online transactions, eBucks and Lottery organiser Uthingo are confident the new service has the potential to take off.
Jolande Duvenage, head of product development at eBucks.com, believes the new offering will provide a competitive advantage for the eBucks programme.
Humphrey Khoza, CEO of Uthingo, sees eBucks as an appropriate partner to further Uthingo`s commitment to extending the ways Lotto tickets may be purchased. Uthingo is also reported to be negotiating with other partners to extend online ticket sales next year.
Various Lotto ticket options are available through the eBucks shop, starting at a minimum of four sets of numbers for both draws for 13 weeks at a cost of 2 600 eBucks. Directly after the purchase, the customer will receive e-mail confirmations from eBucks and Uthingo. A printed certificate to be used for claiming prizes will be posted to the purchaser.
Allannah Lavelle of eBucks marketing says the scheme was launched last week amid little publicity. Nevertheless, there was an encouraging response during the first week, with eBucks customers making 95 purchases worth a total of R34 294.
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