Bettors trooped to thousands of lotto outlets across the country Wednesday, just hours after President Duterte lifted the number game’s suspension.
Late Tuesday, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo announced the resumption of lotto operations on the advice of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
In allowing lotto operations to resume, Medialdea explained the government found no irregularity in the gaming activity during the investigation.
“Investigators found no anomalies in the conduct of its operation, its sanctity remained untainted and proper regulatory rules followed,” he said in a text message.
Panelo, however, said the other games ran by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will remain suspended pending an investigation into the alleged corruption in the agency.
Meanwhile, the PCSO bared that it lost around R250 million in lotto revenues following the four-day suspension.
Royina Garma, PCSO general manager, said their agency generates an average of R60 million per day.
The amount pertains only to lotto, according to Garma.
Garma said they asked for the lifting of lotto’s suspension, explaining that it is “transparent and clean” and is the most profitable game of the agency. She said there is nothing to change with the procedures and its system.
The games allowed by Malacanang include Lotto 6/42; Mega Lotto 6/45; Super Lotto 6/49; Grand Lotto 6/55; Ultra Lotto 6/ 58; 6-Digit Game; 4-Digit Game; Suertres Lotto; and EZ2 Lotto.
On the other hand, Small Town Lottery (STL), Keno, Scratch Tickets, Sweepstakes, and Traditional Games remain suspended pending possible modifications.
Garma said that they are now studying what will be the changes on the system and procedures of the games, adding that they want them to be more transparent.
PCSO, according to Garma, is also eyeing to regionalize the STL draw in the country to make it more transparent.
“Tinitignan natin na i-regionalized ang draw ng STL para bawas gastos din sa part ng PCSO,” the general manager said. (Jel Santos)
