What is La Bolita?
The lottery is played with numbers from 1 to 100, which are assigned certain symbols. Many Cubans rely on dreams or personal experiences when choosing numbers.
For example, during the lifetime of Fidel Castro, nicknamed El Caballo (the Horse), many Cubans bet on the number 1, represented by a horse.
However, the lottery draws do not take place in Cuba, but are based, similar to a secondary lottery, on the lottery results that take place twice a day in Florida, Georgia and New York.
Many Cubans follow the lottery drawings online via the mobile internet, Facebook, WhatsApp or X groups introduced in 2018.
Cuba is currently facing one of the greatest economic crises of all time and La Bolita is giving many hope for big gains and a way out of poverty.
With an average wage of around 42 USD (approx. 36.90 EUR) per month Millions of Cubans take part in the lottery (Link to English) and sometimes bet more money than they can afford. Participation in the lottery is strictly forbidden and is punishable by severe imprisonment or fines, but people still bet on great luck.
Cuba before the revolution
The revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro (middle of the picture) ended in 1959. Afterwards, gambling was banned in the country. © Wikipedia
Before the Cuban Revolution, which ended in 1959 and was led by Fidel Castro, Cuba was the gambling paradise of rich Americans in the 1940s and 1950s. The casino mecca was closely linked to the American mafia and names like Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano, who were in close contact with the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.
After the revolution, the ban on gambling in Cuba and the political tensions between the USA and Cuba, Las Vegas became the gambling metropolis of the American continent.
How is the lottery organized?
The apuntadores (pointers) collect the bets on the streets, in residential areas and in the districts. They are known and trusted by the residents. The apuntadores receive a percentage of their collected bets as commission.
They forward the operations to the Recolectores (collectors) and Corredores (corridors). They in turn then give the collected money to the banqueros (bankers).
The entire organization of the lottery is based on mutual trust. This is the only way the gambling operation can continue to exist, avoid prosecution and keep people's hope alive.
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