The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) introduced the E-Lotto test run by the end of 2023, an online betting platform for its Lotto games1. The agency's year-end report for CY 2023 states that the platform was meant to tap the web market and draw players interested in digital play1. A separate guide to the platform says PCSO launched E-Lotto in December 2023 as the digital counterpart of its traditional lottery games2.
The report gives the agency's own account of the year. PCSO generated Php 61.4 billion from its games in CY 2023, namely Lotto, Digit Games, Small Town Lottery and the National Instant Sweepstakes Program (NISP)1. The report puts total gaming receipts at P61,456,027,455.88, exceeding the annual sales target of P53.23 billion by 15 percent1. Sales rose 7 percent over CY 2022, which the report attributes partly to growth despite the removal of Keno from the official game roster starting April 20221.
"By the end of the year, PCSO also introduced the E-Lotto test-run which serves as an online betting platform for our Lotto games"
The report also records other 2023 changes. PCSO set the minimum jackpot prizes for all jackpot-bearing games to P89 million on October 30, 2023, opened its 72nd branch office in Abra on October 18, 2023 and its 73rd branch office in Sarangani on December 14, 20231. It received ISO 9001:2015 certification from TUV Rheinland on April 3, 2023 and was recognized by the Governance Commission for GOCCs as one of the most improved GOCCs on November 20, 20231.
| PCSO game | CY 2023 receipts | CY 2022 receipts | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto and Digit | 31,377,413,790.00 | 27,916,438,190.00 | 12% |
| Small Town Lottery | 29,734,364,169.24 | 28,428,040,573.00 | 5% |
| Keno | - | 54,466,787.90 | - |
| National Instant Sweepstakes Program | 344,249,496.64 | 1,068,849,899.05 | -68% |
| Total | 61,456,027,455.88 | 57,467,795,449.95 | 7% |
Source: PCSO Year-End Report CY 20231. Keno was removed from the official PCSO game roster starting April 20221.
What it means for players
E-Lotto is described as the digital version of the games played at physical outlets, so tickets for the major Lotto games can be bought through the platform as well as at authorized outlets nationwide2. Registration requires a user to be at least 18 years old, and the app and website are accessible only within the Philippines2. Users must register with a Philippine-registered mobile phone and SIM card, a requirement that also applies to participating overseas Filipino workers and to foreigners holding a valid Philippine government-issued ID2. Identity checks are done through a Know Your Customer process, with a list of accepted IDs that includes passports, driver licenses, national ID and several employment and clearance documents2. The only payment method currently available is GCash, with negotiations under way to add banks and other e-wallets2. The price of a major lotto ticket remains Php 20 per combination, inclusive of the 20 percent Documentary Stamp Tax2. PCSO support can be reached by chat, email and hotline from 7am to 12 midnight2.
What happens next
The report describes E-Lotto as a test run introduced by the end of 2023 and does not set out a date for a full launch1. The same report notes that PCSO launched the Philippine Lottery System on October 1, 20241. No further steps for E-Lotto have been reported.
