Lotto, digit games suspended over Holy Week – PCSO

MANILA, Philippines — Lotto and other digit games will be suspended from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, March 28 to 31, in observance of Lent, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced yesterday.

The PCSO management, in a public advisory, said there will be regular selling of tickets and holding of draw only from Monday up to Wednesday, March 25 to 27.

Regular selling of tickets and holding of draws will resume on April 1.

However, the PCSO said its web-based lotto betting platform or e-lotto will be open 24 hours through the Lenten break for online placing of bets, but the lotto draws will be held upon the resumption starting April 1 and onwards.

The PCSO is promoting the lotto and digit games in its bid to raise more revenues to bulk up their charity fund which provides substantial funding support to the government’s flagship universal health care (UHC) program while maintaining their Medical Assistance Program.

Under Republic Act 1223 or the UHC Law, the PCSO is mandated to allocate 40 percent of its charity funds for the implementation of the law.