Ticket sales up by 16% in 2009

It seems more Filipinos tried their hand at the game of chance last year than ever before. The Philippines two online lottery operators reported this week that their ticket sales were up by 16 percent during 2009.

Pacific Online Systems Corp. disclosed that the lotto sales of its Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in the Visayas and Mindanao increased by 18.5 percent during 2009 to P7.69 billion. In 2008 sales were P6.49 billion. It puts this dramatic increase down to its “aggressive” opening of terminals. At the end of 2008, the Visayas and Mindanao had 1,500 betting terminals but by this end of last year this figure was up to 1,748. There were also a number of significant jackpots last year that would have piqued the interest of many who may never before bought a lotto ticket.

And it appears that it’s not just the lotto that has enjoyed a boost in popularity.  Sales of the nationwide online Keno lottery game also apparently increased by 2.7 times to P88.67 million over the course last year.