José Raúl Mulino spoke about the cleaning and restructuring process that the National Charity Lottery of Panama (LNB) will undergo to make the institution transparent.
Panama.- After the full National Assembly recommended Saquina Jaramillo as the new general director of the National Charity Lottery of Panama (LNB), the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, expressed his hope that once Jaramillo completes the procedure in the Legislature, she will begin the work of "ordering that small disastrous world that is the National Charity Lottery."
Mulino reminded that the Lottery generates significant income for the country and reiterated the initiation of the cleaning and restructuring process to make the lottery games transparent.
It is worth remembering that the president had already advanced his intentions to end the electronic lottery in Panama, known as Lotto and Pega 3, with the aim of improving the efficiency and credibility of the LNB, since, according to the president, this modality "is not a business for the State."
In a press conference held yesterday, Thursday, August 29, Mulino acknowledged that this announcement generated adverse comments from some vendors, but assured that "the National Government will increase, as appropriate, the commission that ticket sellers take home."
In that sense, he added: "It does not depend on the electronic lottery, it does not depend on that... there is enough profit for the State to avoid depending on other things."
Mulino concluded by affirming that "the National Lottery and the Gordito del Zodiaco will be the only lotteries authorized in the Republic of Panama."
The goal is for technology to be clearly at the service of players, vendors, and the Government, which receives the benefits. "Let it not be undermined by shoddy lotteries," emphasized the Panamanian president.
See also: The gaming industry in Panama grew by 13.5% in the first half of the year
As part of the initiative to make the situation transparent, after receiving the endorsement of the National Assembly, Jaramillo said that the list of holders or owners of ticket books will be disclosed, after an audit that is being carried out is completed. Jaramillo advanced that nationally there are 13,000 ticket sellers and that they have already reviewed about 7,500 of the list.
"We are able, once ratified and sworn into office, to present the list of these book holders with the amounts of each one," Jaramillo stated at the time she was questioned by the members of the Credentials Committee of the National Assembly and added: "We are going to systematize that list so that it is public through the transparency portal. So that everyone knows who the holders of these books are."
Authorities have downgraded 5,955 visas.
The Philippines.- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday (September 28) that nearly 3,000 foreign workers employed by offshore gaming operators with downgraded visas have departed from the country.
During a meeting of the recently formed POGO Closure Task Force, BI officer-in-charge commissioner Joel Anthony Viado also reported that as of September 24, they have downgraded 5,955 visas. Of the total, approximately 55 per cent have already left the Philippines.
Viado also said that, during the meeting, task force members agreed to conduct service days for offshore gaming companies, where they will implement their downgraded visa status and issue exit clearances. He also added that DOLE representatives would join them during service days to collect surrendered alien employment permits for offshore gaming workers.
The DOJ previously set a deadline of October 15 for all foreign offshore gaming workers to voluntarily downgrade. From October 16, the visas of foreign offshore gaming workers will be changed to tourist visas. They will be required to leave the Philippines within 60 days or face involuntary repatriation. If they do not leave before December 31, the BI will commence deportation proceedings. According to Viado, however, the more challenging period will come next year, when those who refused to leave will be arrested, deported and blacklisted from the Philippines.
Patrick Patriwirawan Jr., a director of the DOLE, said that, according to data provided by the PAGCOR, 40,962 Filipino workers will be affected by the closure of offshore gaming operators by the end of the year. There are 79,335 workers including foreign nationals, but Patriwirawan said the priority is Filipino workers.
The majority of the profiled workers work for internet gaming licensees (IGLs), previously known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, earning salaries between PHP16,000 (US$285.76) and PHP22,000 (US$392.92).
