This was gathered in the House of Representatives even as Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday (February 1) called on PCSO to put an end to pilot testing of “e-lotto” or the digital version of the lottery games.

Pimentel warned that ‘e-lotto’ will make it easier for fraudsters to bet on all combinations in order to win a huge jackpot.

Earlier, senators have also aired strong opposition to E-lotto pointing out that this may allow even minors to place bets just like in E-sabong.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has stopped E-sabong after receiving complaints about its adverse effects on the youth and the family.

Questions over PCSO’s seeming over eagerness to push through with the e-lotto project have also been raised in the Lower House after it was revealed that the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel advised the lottery agency against pursuing it.

Meanwhile, during a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means, lotto operators complained that at least 2,000 lotto outlets have been closed by the PCSO “to give way to e-lotto.”

Clariz Imperial, a member of the Philippine Online Lottery Agents Association, told lawmakers that many lotto outlets have been forced to fold up barely four months after they started operating.

As a result, thousands of lotto tellers and other workers have become jobless.

PCSO assistant general manager Remeliza Gabuyo explained that d the closure was part of PCSO’s bid to transition to Philippine Lottery System.

On the other hand, PCSO lawyer Kat Contacto said contracts of those affected were terminated due to low sales.