Mexico celebrates its independence every year on September 16, marking the day its people decided to overthrow Spain’s rule. In honor of the occasion, players this year have a chance to win a former presidential retreat in Cancun in a lottery draw.
A former presidential retreat in Cancun, Mexico. The retreat is today’s top prize in the Mexican National Lottery. (Image: Villa Experience)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed the prize on Thursday, taking the opportunity to rally Mexicans across the country to participate in the Independence Day draw. Having the Villas Chakté property, formerly a presidential rest house, as the top prize should raise interest.
The property has an estimated value of around MXN236 million (US$13.8 million), according to government records. With a lottery ticket price of around $26, it’s a great deal for the winner.
A Piece of Presidential History
The beachfront property, a set of palapas in front of the beach, was built while former President Felipe Calderón was still in office. It spans 6,792 square meters (73,108 square feet) with a total constructed area of 836 square meters (8,998 square feet).
Accompanying the palapas are a pool, jacuzzi, gym, bar and games room. These are set against a backdrop of the Caribbean Sea.
The winner of Villas Chakté, should there be one, will receive a prize that has previously been at the center of a government scandal. The former director of Mexico’s National Fund for Tourism Promotion in Cancún, Raúl Bermúdez Arreola, allegedly rented the property through Airbnb and Booking.com for $600 a night.
He had neither the legal authority to rent the property nor the right to keep the proceeds, but he did both. This led to his dismissal and placed the town in the national spotlight.
Over MXN354 million (US$20.7 million) in cash prizes are also available as prizes in today’s draw. In addition, players could win a VIP box at the Azteca Stadium with 20 low-level seats and four parking spaces.
The president reported that the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the construction of a hospital in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo. The drawing will take place tonight in Mexico City’s Zócalo Square.
Raising the Stakes
There have been several unique top prizes offered in the Independence Day draw recently. In 2021, a former home owned by drug tsar Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán became a hot item.
Before listing the home in Culiacan as a prize, the government had to clean it up. The property had previously been modified to connect to a series of underground tunnels, which were sealed off ahead of the draw.
The authorities also went through it completely to make sure El Chapo didn’t leave any drugs, money or weapons behind. No one matched the right numbers to win the house, but one winner took home the Azteca Stadium box seats.
The El Chapo property was just one of many items the lottery includes in its draws that have dubious backgrounds. Mexico’s government maintains a division that is responsible for returning confiscated goods, including real estate, vehicles and more, to the public.
The Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People was one of Obrador’s initiatives when he took office. Often dubbed the “Robin Hood” department, it collects and categorizes seized assets that are determined to have been previously stolen or are the result of political corruption. It then designates the assets for use as schools, hospitals and more.
The post Mexico Lottery Lists Former Presidential Retreat in Cancun As Prize in Today’s Draw appeared first on Casino.org.
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