SC upholds IRR of PCSO's STL operations
State-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Sunday said the Supreme Court (SC) en banc has dismissed a petition of a local gaming operator questioning the Small Town Lottery (STL) 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 in a statement.
According to the PCSO, the SC dismissed the petition of local gaming firm Taal Balisong Gaming Corp. (TBGC) questioning the constitutionality of Section 44 of the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for STL operations in the country.
Under Section 44, all existing STL Authorized Agent Companies as of October 1, 2016 shall have the "right to match" the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipts (PMRR) offered by other interested applicants in the area of operation, in case PCSO opens the area to other firms.
According to the PCSO, the TBGC claimed that the PCSO Board "grossly violated" its right to equal protection of the law.
The PCSO also said that the TBGC claimed it was "unduly stifled" when the PCSO allowed Batangas Enhances Technology Systems Inc. — an authorized agent corporation in the province — to match its PMMR.
"The SC upheld the questioned provision by the TBGC, which provides for the 'right to match' and was not disturbed," the PCSO said.
The gaming regulator expects to collect some P27 billion in revenues, in line with the expansion of its STL operations. —ALG, GMA News