PCSO: Abolition of STL triggered jueteng turf war

MANILA, Philippines - The abolition of the small town lottery (STL) has triggered a turf war among illegal gambling operators who are fighting for control in Southern Tagalog and other areas in Luzon, an official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said yesterday.

PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the scheduled abolition of STL, to be replaced by the Loterya ng Bayan by June this year apparently forced the shift of illegal gambling operations in areas where existing rival groups are operating.

“The areas of operation of jueteng lords are getting smaller everyday, people no longer patronize jueteng, players now go to PCSO outlets to buy lottery tickets,” he said.

Rojas said the series of raids conducted by the police on STL outlets being used as jueteng fronts has resulted in jueteng lords no longer doing their own draw but depending on the results of the legitimate lottery.

Because of declining sales, gambling operators are sometimes no longer able to pay the winning tickets.

“At PCSO winners are paid to the last centavo, so we are winning the hearts and minds of the people in the war against the illegal numbers game,” Rojas said.

The PCSO has launched the Loterya to raise revenues and combat the proliferation of jueteng and other formers of illegal gambling.

Last year, the STL operations of 20 gaming corporations grossed P3.9 billion compared to P1.9 billion in 2009, an indication of the increasing popularity of the lottery game.

Meanwhile, at least 200 gaming firms, including existing STL operators, have applied for permits to operate Loterya in their localities.