22/02/2023
An image of lottery ticket vendor in Escolta, Manila, Philippines
Dated 1868
Albert Honiss photograph collection
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Lotteries have been in existence in the Philippines as early as 1833. Under the auspices of private enterprises called Empresa de Reales Loteria Espanolas de Filipinas, the Spanish Government conducted loterias to generate revenues. Dr. Jose Rizal won โฑ6,200.00 in the draw of 1892, while on exile in Dapitan. He donated his winnings to an educational project.
The loteria was forced to stop operations during the Philippine Revolution and through the Spanish-American War.
In 1932, the first Sweepstakes draw after the last loteria was conducted by the American Insular government to raise funds to support sports projects for the Filipino youth through the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) โ the beneficiary of the first draw. After the success of the PAAF Sweepstakes, the government decided to conduct more draws for the benefit of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society, now the Philippine Tuberculosis Society (PTS). The draws were held under the auspices of an organization called the National Charity Sweepstakes.
On March 1935, then President Manuel L. Quezon approved Act No. 301 โ the law passed by the Philippine Legislature in October 30, 1934 creating the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, replacing the then National Charity Sweepstakes. Under this law, the new organization was authorized to secure from the National Treasury a loan amounting to โฑ250,000.00, the minimum amount required for organizing the office and printing the tickets for the draw. On September 8, 1935, the new agency held its first Sweepstakes draw. The loan was paid back in less than two months and shortly after the note was signed, proceeds from the sales started coming in.
Among its beneficiaries then were the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF), the Philippine Tuberculosis Society (PTS), the National Federation of Womenโs Clubs, the Association de Damas de Filipinas, the Gota de Leche, the Associate of Manila and the Provinces, the Philippine Council of Boy Scouts of America, the Asilo Para Invalidos de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, the Child Welfare Center and other institutions and organizations engaged in charitable and health work, or work for the improvement of the conditions of the indigent Filipino masses.
Its corporate charter was enacted into law under Republic Act 1169 June 18, 1954 by Ramon Magsaysay. It repealed Act No. 430, as amended by Commonwealth Act Nos. 301 and 546 and by Republic Acts Nos. 72 and 574. In September 1979, Batas Pambansa Blg. 42 was enacted to raise the fund allocation for the agencyโs Charity Fund and for the use of unclaimed prizes.
On January 1995, during the incumbency of then Chairman Manuel Morato, the PCSO launched the very first online lottery in the Philippines known as Lotto. Similar to the U.S., Europe and Australia, the automated gaming, initially the Lotto 6/42, the player chooses any set of 6 numbers from 1 to 42 and wins when these numbers are drawn in any sequence during the draw date. An equipment lease was signed with Malaysia's Berjaya Sports Toto Berhad.
On March 20, 2006, through the advise of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the PCSO launched the small-town lottery (STL). It is intended to compete with jueteng, a popular but illegal numbers game that is criticized as a major source of corruption in local government units.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is a government-owned and controlled corporation of the Philippines under direct supervision of the Office of the President. It is mandated to do fund raising and provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character. The raised collections goes to the President's Presidential Social Fund.(wikipedia)
***Image post from Carlos Glen Zerudo Ambrosio
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shared by ~dalisay~๐ฎ
