The group Quezon City Advocates for Responsible Entertainment, Sports, Gaming and Wellness (QCares) is pushing for a comprehensive investigation into the legality of the license granted to Lucent Gaming and Entertainment to continue operating the Small Town Lottery (STL) in the city.
In a statement, QCares said it received information that Lucent failed to fulfill its obligations to the government to pay its daily remittances in connection with the STL permit granted to it.
As a result, QCares’ investigation revealed that based on the data of the STL Sales Report for the calendar year 2022 of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the amount paid by Lucent Gaming for the month of May was insufficient.
Based on the document, Lucent only handed over P7.8 million compared to the approximately P23.9 million it had to pay to the government.
“Lucent Gaming’s substantial shortfall is clear evidence of its indebtedness to the government and the delay in its response to the duties entrusted to it as an STL operator,” the group said.
Lucent Gaming had yet to react to the statement as of posting time. Efforts to reach the firm Sunday were unsuccessful.
QCares reiterated that Lucent Gaming and Entertainment was not financially sound to manage and sustain the STL operation, after records revealed the company is also heavily indebted to Quezon City businessmen who are also their members.
Records showed that Lucent’s members paid the 3-month shortfall of the company amounting to P1,695,955.
They also covered the daily remittance payment to the PCSO from October 6, 2021 to February 18, 2022 amounting to P42,364,625, plus Lucent’s operating costs of P23,935,493.
According to QCares, the current state of Lucent Gaming’s continued operation is questionable.
The group is also worried over the lack of the corresponding action from the government despite its failure to meet its obligations.