PCSO integrates lotto system

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has migrated to a single automated lottery system to improve efficiency and transparency for both the agency and lottery players.

"We are thrilled to embark on this significant transition towards the automation of our system for our lotto games," PCSO general manager Mel Robles said.

"The Philippine Lottery System Project is a testament to our commitment to innovation and providing the best experience for our valued customers," he added.

Robles said that all lottery operations are now seamlessly integrated in a unified platform.

For the past two decades, the PCSO had been using two separate lottery systems for its lotto outlet's ticket-selling operations nationwide: the Philippine Gaming and Management Corporation system for Luzon and the Pacific Online Systems Corporation system for the Visayas and Mindanao.

Though the agency's plan to install a centralized lottery system has been in the works for around a decade, it was stalled due to numerous unforeseen circumstances and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project, which cost P5.6 billion, was initiated by the previous PCSO administration and underwent a public bidding.

The winning bidder was granted a Notice to Proceed on 6 December 2021, and was initially given 14 months to implement the PLS. It was granted an extension of eight months to complete the manufacturing process amid supply chain problems caused by the pandemic.

The PLS will enable the PCSO to efficiently generate draw results, leading to quicker announcements of jackpot winners and their locations. Moreover, the agency can conduct more advanced draws.

The new lottery system has been certified to comply with the World Lottery Association security control standards, including ISO 27001 standards, ensuring the system's integrity and security.