Pacific Online taps food firm to distribute ScratchIT tickets

MANILA, Philippines - In an apparent bid to further extend its distribution network, listed lotto operator Pacific Online Systems Corp. has tapped popular Andok's Litson Manok Corp. for its ScratchIT instant tickets. Pacific Online told the Philippine Stock Exchange that it has entered into a distribution agreement for its ScratchIT instant tickets with Andok's, which is nearly in every corner and street of the greater Manila area. Andok's has been in the food service industry since 1985. It is the pioneer in the business of selling and catering roasted chicken. It owns and operates more than 300 outlets nationwide. Pacific Online, which provides lotto equipment to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the Visayas and Mindanao regions, reported that in 2008 its earnings improved two percent to P138 million. Revenues reached P766 million, 53 percent higher than last year's due to “record high PCSO sales from lottery operations, aggressive distribution of instant scratch tickets, and wider reach retail operations by the company's subsidiaries." Meanwhile, sales for the first two months of 2009 increased 38 percent owing to record sales in February "as the jackpot hit the highest of the country's lottery." Currently, Pacific Online also plans to hike the number of lotto terminals in Visayas and Mindanao to 1,800 from the current 1,600 The company will also introduce five new games in the southern Philippines. Lotto sales in Visayas and Mindanao grew 35 percent to P6.49 billion from P4.79 billion in the previous year. Pacific Online also runs Lucky Circle, which sells lotto sweepstakes tickets through its 52 outlets nationwide. These branches are primarily located in malls owned and managed by the SM Group. The company employs 120 workers, according to its website. GMANews.TV