32 STL agents allowed to resume operations

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) yesterday allowed 32 small town lottery (STL) operators or authorized agent corporations (AACs) nationwide to resume operations after they complied with the new conditions set by President Duterte.

One of the conditions set for the STL to resume was the payment of a cash bond equivalent to three months of PCSO’s share in the agents’ guaranteed minimum monthly retail receipts (GMMRR).

Operators who will fail to comply with the new conditions will have their STL franchises terminated and offered to other interested parties.

In a matter of four days that STL operators and AACs complied with the new conditions, the PCSO collected P1.75 billion in cash bond payments.

The amount does not include the P102.27 million in under-remittance of GMMRR that the PCSO received.

A part of the STL revenues is allocated to a charity fund, which is given to people who need medical assistance.

The PCSO is expecting STL supervisors and their representatives who rely on STL to welcome the resumption of their operations.

It expressed confidence the STL operations would significantly improve with the promulgation of the 2019 STL revised implementing rules and regulations and policies designed to ensure transparency and gain the trust of the gaming public.

Duterte suspended the STL operation late July and lifted the ban on Aug. 22.