The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to responsible gaming to ensure that people are protected from the adverse consequences of high-stakes gambling that may lead people into addiction, according to general manager Alexander Balutan.
“Our gaming products are into responsible gaming. It has charity and I think no one will get into a mess because of a P20 bet” Balutan said.
Balutan was reacting to the call of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, an anti-illegal gambling advocate who renewed his campaign to stop casinos and other forms of gambling in the country, even comparing gambling to addictive drugs.
“PCSO is different from the usual casino operation where profit is the main driver. From the beginning, our purpose of being is to do charity work. We used to do it through our different game products, like Lotto, KENO, Sweepstakes and Small Town Lottery (STL). Our objective is to help Filipinos,” Balutan emphasized.
Balutan said Filipinos, particularly those in the countryside, have always been into gaming and they will likely continue to play games, like “jueteng” or “masiao,” even if the PCSO stops all its gaming operations but betting on jueteng and other illegal games profit no one except the illegal gambling lords and their protectors.
“Illegal gambling lords will continue to operate in connivance with their protectors. They do not pay taxes. They underpay their employees. They contribute nothing to national development. If we stop PCSO gaming operations, illegal gambling lords will return with a vengeance,” Balutan said.
“If we decide to stop gaming, we should first target illegal gambling which profits no one. “Should there be targeted, it should be the high rollers like that of Charlie Atong Ang, and not the PCSO. We are always into responsible gaming. In every P20 worth of lotto ticket, P6 goes to charitable services of the agency,” he added.
Balutan reiterated his warning against illegal gambling operators, particularly those who are using STL as a front of their illegal activity to stop or face consequences of their action. He again appealed to the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to double their efforts on their drive against illegal gambling and put an end to it.
Meanwhile, the PCSO has generated more than P16 billion from its different game products from January to April, which is 32.29 percent higher compared with the same period last year. The generated revenues have helped 117,954 beneficiaries under Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) of the agency.
“The improved sales of the expanded STL resulted to the generation of more than P3.88 billion, an increase of 135.26 percent compared with the same period last year,” Balutan said.