PCSO launches state-of-the-art lotto machines

Lotto outlets in the Visayas and Mindanao will now be using state-of-the-art equipment to better serve bettors in the area.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Sergio Valencia, during the inauguration of the hi-tech machines called Extrema yesterday, said that at least 700 of these new equipment have been installed in different lotto outlets to make betting easier and faster.

" With this development, the betting will be much faster compared to what we have in the past, our bettors will not have to line up because the transaction is made easier," Valencia said.

Extrema, Valencia said, is faster because it makes use of wireless technology and the DSL connection. The machines are manufactured by Scientific Games Incorporated and costs around $14 million.

Valencia said the acquisition of the machines is an offshoot of the increase in sales of lotto outlets in the Visayas and Mindanao from P2.6 billion last year to P3.1 billion this year.

William Medici, the department manager for Visayas and Mindanao, said that figures stated are 30 percent higher than the expected sales of P2.8 billion.

He also said that 55 percent of the P3.1 billion sales went to the prizes of lottery winners while 30 percent went to charity. He added that Visayas had the biggest share in sales, getting at least 65 percent of the P3.1 billion total sales.

Among the games offered in lotto outlets, Medici said that the most popular is the Swertres with total sales of P500 million for this year alone.

" This is because people had shifted to swertres instead of masiao because of the credibility of the game," Medici said.

There are over 220 lotto outlets in Cebu, 95 of which are in Cebu City, 25 are in Mandaue, 10 in Lapu-Lapu City and 5 in Talisay City. - Jasmin R. Uy