Duterte lifts ban on small-town lottery ops but sets conditions

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte has lifted the ban on small-town lottery operations nationwide but set conditions, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said.

PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said in a Facebook Live video on Thursday, Aug. 22, that authorized agent corporations (AACs) that are compliant with the conditions of their STL agency agreement and have been remitting their guaranteed minimum monthly retail receipts may operate provided they meet the following:

  • The AACs shall deposit with the PCSO a cash bond equivalent to three months of the PCSO’s share in the Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Retail Receipts (GMMRR) on top of their existing cash bonds.
  • Upon failure to timely and fully remit their GMMRR during the duration of operations, the AACs’ cash bond equivalent to three months of the PCSO’s share in the GMMRR shall be automatically forfeited in favor of PCSO, without prejudice to the other remedies that may be exercised by the government.
  • Each AAC shall execute a written undertaking that it shall comply with its obligations under the STL agency agreement and will not institute any claims, monetary or otherwise, against the government, and/or apply for a temporary restraining order or injunction from any court to prevent the government from exercising its rights and prerogatives.
  • The STL agency agreement shall automatically be terminated upon violation of the conditions of their franchise and/or any of the above conditions without prejudice to the other remedies that may be exercised by the government.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, those non-compliant will have to pay their arrears.

“There will be a waiver from suits. Franchise holders cannot sue,” he added.

Duterte in July suspended all forms of gambling under PCSO mandate, including keno, Peryahan ng Bayan, lotto and STL, citing what he said was massive corruption.

He later lifted the ban on lotto operations.