LOTTO operators in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental over the weekend said they are losing 80 to 90 percent of their sales after being stripped of authority to sell swertres lotto at P1.
Astrid Bana, president of the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Lotto Agents Association (Moclaa), said before the suspension of lotto operations, lotto operators used to operate on both lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) games. But after the suspension was lifted, lotto outlets were prohibited from selling swertres at P1.
A new directive from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) supposedly separated STL from lotto operations.
In Misamis Oriental, only the Diamond Millenium Corporation which holds franchises of STL outlets is authorized to sell swertres at P1.
Bana said they are still allowed to sell swertres lotto, but at a much higher price, P12 per bet.
"How can we compete sa P1? Alkansi gyud mi. Bagsak among sales karon kay 80 to 90 percent sa among income gikan sa swertres. Ang STL ug illegal swertres ang nakinabang karon," he said.
As a result of the new PCSO order, Bana said many lotto outlets are closing their shop.
"Ang irony is swertres lotto is a product of lotto, dili produkto sa STL. Pero sila na nuon ang gipa-operate," he said.
The group hopes that the PCSO will reconsider and authorize them to sell swertres at P1.