The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Sunday welcomed a Supreme Court en banc decision dismissing a petition by a local gaming corporation in Batangas that questioned the constitutionality of a provision in the guidelines covering Small Town Lottery operations in the country.
“The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the expansion of STL operations in the country,” PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said.
“We will continue to expand and defend the only legal numbers game in the country to help in the generation of funds for the medical needs of our countrymen,” he added.
The high court dismissed the petition of local gaming operator Taal Balisong Gaming Corp. against PCSO.
The court upheld the questioned being provision by the TBGC, which allows STL Authorized Agent Company the “right to match” the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts offered by other interested applicants in the event that PCSO opens the same area to other applicants.
In its petition, the TBGC claimed that the PCSO Board “grossly violated” its right to equal protection of the law and “unduly stifled” competition in the STL business when it allowed Batangas Enhanced Technology Systems, Inc., an authorized agent corporation in the province, to match its PMMR.
The PCSO expects to collect around P27 billion in revenues this year with the expansion of the operation of the STL, with 91 approved AACs, 47 of which are already operational as of May 15.