PCSO hits P55B initial target for 2018

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Alexander Balutan announced on Tuesday that the agency has already hit its P55-billion initial target for the month of October, two months before 2018 ends.

“As of January to October, our gross sales is already at P54.8 billion, which is 27 percent higher compared to the same period last year. When we say overall, that is combined Lotto, Keno, Small Town Lottery (STL), and Instant Sweepstakes,” said Balutan.

Last year, PCSO initially targeted P55 billion, but it was adjusted to P60 billion due to the roll out of STL. It also strengthened Lotto products nationwide.

“Like I always say, figures don’t lie. This is a proof that PCSO is and has always been on the right track in meeting its revenue target or more by the end of this year,” added Balutan.

In a data from the office of Arnel Casas, officer-in-charge Assistant General Manager for Gaming, Product Development and Marketing Sector, it reported that Lotto was the highest earning product with P27,987,584,260 gross sales, which is 5.13 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

It was followed by STL with P21.9 billion sales, Keno with P3,899,533,950 sales, and Instant Sweepstakes with P958,364,000.

“We are confident that we will once again break our sales records and hit the P60 billion sales by the end of this year. And this is because of the phenomenal sales brought about by the record-breaking jackpot prize that reached P1 billion for the Ultra Lotto. Its promotion, popularity, and public acceptance also helped other online lotto games to increase sales for the months of September and October. STL sales is also unprecedented for this period,” explained Casas.

Balutan likewise credited the growing sales from the Expanded STL operations being operated by Authorized STL Agents (ASAs) nationwide.

“Second highest earning product ang STL That’s why very aggressive tayo sa ating campaign against illegal gambling, especially ‘yung mga jueteng, swertres, at pares. Only PCSO is the authorized by the government to operate. Tangkilin natin ang authorized numbers games sa ating mga probinsya para makatulong tayo sa paglago ng ating pondo,” said Balutan.

PCSO Charter, or RA 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating expenses).