P1.8-B contract for Davao, other casinos assailed

DIGOS CITY—Agham Representative Angelo Palmones urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to rescind a P1.8-billion contract for the paper-based ticket-in/ticket-out (TITO) technology in casino slot machines as this was allegedly “overpriced and grossly disadvantageous to the government.”

The technology will be heavily used in casinos in Davao City and other areas.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer tried but failed to get Pagcor’s comment as calls to its corporate communication’s three local numbers and an e-mail sent went unanswered.

Palmones said the program, proposed by Perception Gaming Inc. and Malaysia’s RGB International, was also environmentally disadvantageous and “out of technology.”

TITO technology on slot machines was developed by US-based companies International Game Technology and Casino Data Systems. A TITO slot machine prints out a slip of paper with a barcode, which can either be redeemed for cash or inserted for play.

Palmones, in a statement sent to media outlets here and in Davao, said aside from being overpriced and anti-environment due to its use of thermal paper, the TITO technology was outdated and has security issues. Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao