16 gaming firms apply for permits to operate Loterya ng Bayan

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) reported yesterday that 16 gaming corporations that hold franchises of the controversial small town lottery (STL) have applied for permits to operate the newly launched PCSO Loterya ng Bayan (PLB).

Liza Gabuyo, assistant general manager of the PCSO for online operations, told The STAR that as of yesterday, 16 firms all over the country have sought franchises to operate the PLB.

“We are expecting more application before the Feb.15, 2011 deadline ends,” she said.

Gabuyo declined to identify the 16 gaming firms but she assured the public that the applicants would undergo strict screening and must comply with requirements for the new town lottery game.

The 16 gaming firms were among the 26 corporations earlier granted permit to operate the STL in various parts of the country.

It was not yet clear if among those who applied were those exposed during a congressional hearing as fronts for jueteng and other illegal numbers games.

Gabuyo said 11 new companies have also applied for PLB franchises.

The PLB is a new town lottery programmed to generate funds for charity and to serve as an alternative to jueteng and other illegal gambling operations nationwide.

PCSO chair Margie Juico said during the launching of the new game early this month that the Philippine National Police reported the old STL has become a front for illegal numbers games, particularly jueteng.

The 26 licensed STL operators were directed to signify their intention to shift their operations to the new PLB, comply with the requirements, and abide by the implementing rules and regulations.

The authority of any STL operator not signifying intention to convert to PLB or who failed to comply with requirements is canceled and its operations shall be considered illegal, the agency said.

PCSO records showed that STL operations were launched in Romblon, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte, Leyte province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Only 12 corporations were allowed to operate outlets in Quezon, Angeles City, Bataan, Laguna, Bulacan Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Ilocos Norte when the STL was launched in 2006.

New permits were issued to STL operations in Albay, Olongapo City, and Batangas in 2007 while more operators were authorized to operate in Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, and Isabela in 2008.

Officials, however, noticed that the sales of STL outlets declined from P8.4 billion in 2006 to P2.3 billion in 2008, and P1.9 billion in 2009.

The PCSO will create a review committee to monitor the operations of the PLB to insure that only corporations with clean records and no links to illegal gambling would be given the STL franchise.

Any attempt of operators to connive with illegal gambling lords would be a ground for the immediate cancellation of their franchises.