the Bug Game Rio

Critter Match HistoryFacade Zoo Rio de Janeiro
Very different from its current configuration, the Bug Game emerged from an almost innocent way for over a century. On July 4, 1892, Baron John the Baptist Vianna Drummond, known carioca character of that time, conceived the game as a way to attract more people to your zoo, which was undergoing financial difficulties and was about to be closed.
To create the dynamics of the game he decided to use the 25 types of animals that existed on your property in Vila Isabel and assimilated 4 numbers for each animal, resulting in 100 scores counted from 00 to 99. These figures and animals are still used today, but the game had some differences.
Every ticket sold to enter the zoo was associated with an animal, depending on the last two numbers of the ticket, and this ticket giving right to participate in the draw where a portion of the amount collected to the entries was drawn. The winner animal, which was previously chosen by the Lord, was represented by a figure that was hidden by a cloth and was only revealed at the end of the day, which encouraged people to spend the day at the Zoo, consuming its various services such as cafes, hotel and restaurant.The first years of Critter GameEntrance ticket to the Rio Zoo
Launch the game Critter was able to have the success expected by Baron and was hugely celebrated by the Rio press, as shown in this excerpt from a report published by Jornal do Brazil the epoch:
"The company Zoo yesterday held a magnificent walking country to its important establishment in the picturesque Vila Isabel neighborhood.
In special trams headed the guests and members of the press to that place and after visiting the hotel, which is found in the best conditions, the gardens, the cages in which they are the animals and birds, took part in a sumptuous dinner in over 60 table cutlery, presided over by the worthy director of that company, Mr. Drummond baron.
The 1st toast was raised by Mr. Sérgio Ferreira Mr.. Drummond Baron, who then with all the kindness toasted the press, being matched by our representative. They also exchanged other gifts, the latter to Mr. vice president.
As a means of establishing public competition, making frequented and known that establishment that pays tribute to its founder, the company organized a daily prize is to draw lots among 25 animals Zoo the name of one, which will close in a box wood at 7 am and open at 5 pm, to be exposed to the public. Each entry carrier with ticket you have the animal has figured the award of $ 20. It was held yesterday the 1st draw, falling back on the prize Ostrich, who gave a poule recheiada 460 $ 000.
The company is building a large hall for special concerts, public dances, and will establish in the garden children's games and other miscellaneous to the public.
At 9 am back guests, high distinction people, seized all the kindness of Mr. Drummond baron and his worthy assistants. It was a splendid party. "
At that time, the economic uncertainties negatively affected many shops, they needed to use raffles and other gimmicks to attract new customers. In this sense, the initiative of Baron was nothing special and was seen casually at the time of its release.
However, unlike other business sweepstakes, the zoo's Critter Game ended up having such a success that soon people went to the zoo just the draw, and came to buy several tickets at once to have more chances of receiving the prize . This alerted the police, who began to consider the Critter Play as a game of chance.Trouble with the lawHammer courts of justice
The Critter Match trouble with the law began only two weeks after its release. Just like today, games of chance were forbidden in Brazil of the nineteenth century, and all kinds of lottery should be previously approved by local authorities.
Despite having given the green light for the operation of Critter Play, then the police of Rio de Janeiro regretted his decision, considering that the game was out of control, as shown in this paper's public report The Time, still in 1892:
"When Dr. 2nd delegate yesterday directed Dr. Chief of Police the following craft:
In an effort to seek to attract competition from visitors to the Zoo, asked its director to certain public recreational license, granted to him by the police in view of covertly innocent feature that the first simple fun description seemed to be deduced. However, implemented such fun, it turns out that she has the real game range, clearly prohibited. Tickets exposed for sale contain purely random hope of a cash prize, and the ticket holder only gets the prize, if you have the good fortune to hit with the name of the animal species that is built on top of a mast.
This fun, detrimental to the interests of the charms that with the deceptive hope of an uncertain profit naively let themselves be seduced, it is precisely a true game of chance, because the loss and gain depend solely on chance and luck.
At this time he began the story of Critter Match trouble with the law, which was marked by ups and downs until its final ban in 1941, when the law was passed ban on gambling in Brazil.Passing the zoo boundariesAerial view of Copacabana
Despite the zoo could no longer operate the Critter game, that does not mean in any way that the game is over. Due to its immense popularity, the game did not take long to leave the borders of Drummond Baron of the property and make a name throughout Brazil.
Today's game has taken on a somewhat different format from its original version, and its results are based on the national lottery. The 121-year history of Critter game show that he succeeded and today is one of the most played modes for all Brazilians who dream of a life change.