The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will launch its first-ever online or electronic lottery in November as it downplayed fears that traditional lotto outlets would be affected.
PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles said: “We have a new product, probably in November. It would be more easy and convenient (for the bettors).”
The agency’s traditional lotto was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Robles said.
“That’s why we came up with the idea of an alternative lottery.What is amusing is, before we could do it, there was already an operation of two illegal sites. We cannot divulge them because we plan to file cases,” he said.
“There is really a need and demand for e-lotto because there are those that operate,” he added.
He also dismissed concerns that the operation of the traditional lotto outlets would die with the electronic transactions.
“There will be more (income) for the stalls. The e-lotto caters to a different group, people who do not want to go out of the rain or sun as well as those who could not park (near the outlet),” he said.
“Lotto is jackpot-driven. If the prize is high, there will be a bigger base (of bettors),” he added.
He urged overseas Filipino workers to place their bets once the lotto mobile-app has been put in place.