PCSO Lottery Draw

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The PCSO Lottery Draw is a Philippine television game show produced by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). It airs daily (except during public holidays) on the People's Television Network (PTV) since March 8, 1995, and involves the PCSO workforce consisting of more than 2,000 employees nationwide. The program consists of drawing of parimutuel and fixed payout lottery games, sweepstakes games, and since November 15, 2017, it added the centralized draws of the Small Town Lottery (Pares, Swer3 and Swer2) for the provinces that do not conduct their own local STL draws.

The program is also simulcast over Radyo Pilipinas 1 738 kHz, Radyo Pilipinas 2 918 kHz, DZME 1530 kHz, and Brigada News FM stations and PCSO and PTV's websites, Facebook pages and YouTube accounts.

History[]

The program premiered on March 8, 1995 became first known as "Philippine Lotto Draw" with original hosts. Tina Revilla, Kathy De Leon-Villar and various hosts.

In 2003, the program was put into hiatus for the first time and was resumed in 2005.

In 2005, the program returned after two years hiatus, during a lottery game suspension.

On November 29, 2010, a 60 year old Filipino won the biggest jackpot ever hit in the Philippines. He won 741 million pesos with PCSO. He found out that he had won through the newspaper, because there he recognized his numbers again.^[1]

In 2013, the program change its name also known as "Philippine Lottery Draw".

Since 2016, the show renamed known as "PCSO Lottery Draw".

On October 27, 2019, the program launched a new segment called Handog Pasasalamat sa Pamilyang Pilipino, as part of the 85th anniversary celebration of the PCSO. Five families from a selected barangay will receive various items, such as grocery items and cash prizes, from a sponsor, usually associated with PCSO. The segment is hosted by one of the main hosts and a guest co-host, either by Dennis Padilla or Gary Lim. It is held every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Draw procedure[]

Before every draw day begins with the airing of a clip in which the blowing machines, called "Mega Gems", and the balls used in each game are inspected to ensure that everything is fair and nothing is concealed in the machines and balls for the draw day. The inspection is undertaken by a panel of judges, composed of a neutral set of people not connected with the PCSO. Representatives from the Commission on Audit oversee the proceedings and the draw to see that everything goes according to protocol. The pre-draw procedure is as follows:

1. The panel inspects each of the Mega Gems to be used in the draws for a draw day, including the interior of the blowing chamber and the blowing mechanisms. This is to make sure there is nothing hidden in the Mega Gems that will invalidate the entire draw, such as hidden balls or obstructions. The Mega Gems are also given a dry run using a set of unmarked ping-pong balls to test if they would work as they should come the actual draw.
2. The balls to be used in each game are stored inside briefcases. There are usually three cases of balls to be used on each game, distinguished by either numbers or uppercase or lowercase letters. The panel randomly chooses one set using cards and its chosen card is shown. In the lot games such as the Super Lotto 6/49 and 2D Lotto, the balls are of one color, and each set may have a different color. In the digit games such as the 6D Lotto, no matter the set chosen, each digit from 0 to 9 has a different color, and each set is identical. In Small Town Lottery games, all balls are of one color.
3. After one set of balls has been chosen for a game, each of the balls is weighed to see if they have the same or almost the same weight using a digital scale. This part of the procedure is covered by a separate video camera, which will record any abnormal circumstance, such as ball switching or a ball which either is overweight or is too light, should it comes out.
4. After the balls for the game are weighed, they are loaded by hand by the head of the panel into the loading bays of the game's Mega Gem. This is the only first of the two times human intervention is needed as each Mega Gem is operated using a remote console stationed a small distance away from the unit. The second, never shown but implied, is the removal of the balls from the Mega Gem after each draw show has ended and the results of the draws are recorded. In the case of digit lottery games, the removal of balls is the third time, as the drawn balls are also adjusted (see below).

Each Mega Gem, depending on the type of game, as already mentioned, is operated by automation. The Mega Gem loads the balls from the loading bays to the draw chamber, after which the blower starts to mix the balls. In the number lottery games (excluding the Power Lotto), the machine draws six numbers one-by-one and is inserted into the inner left loading bay. In machines used in the 2D Lotto and the digit lottery games, each number/digit in the combination is drawn from its own chamber. Once a ball is drawn, it is locked into place by slats placed over the pipe leading from the drawing chamber. Once the necessary number of balls has been picked, the Mega Gem is turned off.

The Mega Gem used in Power Lotto (mentioned below) was a compound version of the two types of Mega Gems stated above. The chamber which drew the main five numbers has its ball loading bays placed at the back, but had a separate tube where the five drawn number balls are directed. It was operated the same way as the Mega Gem used in the other number lottery games. The chamber that draws the power number was the same one used as those in 6D Lotto. The first chamber was first turned on to draw the five main numbers. Afterwards, the first chamber was turned off and the second chamber was then switched on to draw the power number. After the power number has been drawn, the entire machine was turned off.

Balls typically have numbers all over their outer edges. The numbers on balls used in number lottery games (except the 2D Lotto), are read on the spot without the need of touching them. In the digit lottery games and the 2D Lotto with top drawing Mega Gems, the balls are adjusted to clearly show the numbers drawn. Because of the nature of the Power Lotto Mega Gem, each of the methods mentioned were applied in each of the machine's two chambers.

However since 2014, the balls are no longer adjusted, instead the numbers on balls are read on the spot by the host. This applies to all games.

The winning combination on December 30, 2020 6/55 9PM are: 04 05 07 12 17 18. The jackpot prize is P256,564,464.35, and there was only one winner.

The Games[]

The PCSO Lottery Draw currently hosts a total of nine games, each with their own combinations and mechanics of play.

The number lottery games are:

A typical outlet in Angeles City for purchasing tickets.

The card for playing Super Lotto 6/49.

A provincial PCSO office (Gapan City, Nueva Ecija Provincial District Office).

Pari-mutuel games[]

• Lotto 6/42 is the flagship lotto draw, first introduced in March 8, 1995. The game was initially introduced in Luzon, with a separate game for "VisMin" (Visayas and Mindanao) geographical regions as a single unit. The two draws were later combined into a nationwide one in 2005. As the name states, a six-number combination is chosen from a lot of numbers from 1 to 42. To win a prize, at least three of one's chosen numbers must match with to those of the six winning numbers. The odds of getting all six winning numbers, and thus the jackpot, are 1 in 5,245,786. Draws are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
• Mega Lotto 6/45 was introduced in May 17, 1997 and a more improved version of the 6/42 draw and is also introduced as nationwide one. As the name states, a six-number combination is chosen from a lot of numbers from 1 to 45. As with 6/42, at least three of one's chosen numbers must appear among the six winning numbers to win a prize. The odds of getting all six winning numbers are much larger at 1 in 8,145,060. Draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Super Lotto 6/49 was introduced on July 16, 2000 and increases odds and makes winning more difficult than the previous two, this time with a lot of numbers ranging from 1 to 49. Draw mechanics are the same. The odds of winning are now higher at 1 in 13,983,816. Draws are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
• Grand Lotto 6/55 was introduced in April 18, 2010. Draw mechanics are the same as the previous three, but this time, the number lot is from 1 to 55. The Grand Lotto draw and currently uses the larger of the two-chamber Power Lotto Mega Gem. While its minimum jackpot is pegged at ₱30,000,000, it had the Power Lotto's ₱108,000,000 final jackpot as its jackpot prize on its first draw. The odds are at 1 in 28,989,675. Draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Ultra Lotto 6/58 is the most recent of all the lottery draw. It was launched on February 7, 2015. Its first draw was on February 8, 2015. Draw mechanics are the same as the previous four, but this time, the number is from 1 to 58. Draws are held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Its minimum jackpot is PHP50,000,000.00.^[2][3] The odds are, at their highest, at 1 in 40,475,358. On October 14, 2018, two bettors from Albay and Samar split the ₱1,180,622,508 (US$21,862,177) jackpot, the largest won.^[4]

There are also three digit lottery games. Unlike the number lottery games, the digits must appear in "exact order", i.e. in the order of the numbered chambers from which each digit is drawn:

• 4D Lotto was introduced in August 4, 1997 and uses a four-chambered Mega Gem, each drawing a digit from 0 to 9. To win, one must have at least the last two digits of the winning combination. The odds of winning are 1 in 10,000. Draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• 6D Lotto was also introduced in December 11, 1997 draws six digits from a six-chambered Mega Gem. To win, one must have at least the first or last three digits of the winning combination in exact order. Odds in winning are increased at 1 in 1,000,000. Originally it was played in Luzon areas only. But it was played nationwide since February 11, 2020. Draws are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.^[5]

Fixed payout games[]

• 3D Lotto was launched in June 13, 2002 in Visayas and Mindanao (later expanded to Luzon in 2006) uses a three-chambered Mega Gem, each drawing a digit from 0 to 9. The Swertres 3D Lotto is drawn 3 (three) times daily, Monday-Sunday. The nationwide draws are the morning (11AM), afternoon (4PM) and evening (on PTV) (9PM). This game perhaps is the most popular among the fixed payout games, garnering a solid following in social media especially through varied Facebook groups.

A multitude of websites also have been created and are updated regularly every after the morning, afternoon, and evening draws are recorded. Most of these websites also try to compile and pseudo-analyze results based on prevailing results and techniques used by bettors of the game- this even though results are drawn in random.

• 2D Lotto was launched in July 5, 2004 in Luzon (later expanded to Visayas and Mindanao in 2006) uses a two-chambered Mega Gem, each drawing a number from a lot of 1 to 31, thus ensuing a possibility of the same number appearing twice in a combination or a Double. To win the jackpot, one must have the two numbers in exact order as they appear in the chambers. The odds of getting exact order are in 1 in 961. The odds in LLAVE order are 1 in 465. Therefore 465 numbers are LLave (Rambol) (01-02, 02-01). The EZ2 Lotto is drawn 3 (three) times daily, Monday-Sunday. The nationwide draws are the morning (11AM), afternoon (4PM) and evening (on PTV) (9PM).

Small Town Lottery games[]

Logo of the PCSO's Small Town Lottery

On November 15, 2017, centralized Small Town Lottery games were added into the show. The results of these draws are for provinces that do not have a local franchise of STL.

The Small Town Lottery games are also held three times daily, every 11AM, 4PM, and 9PM.

• STL Pares uses a single-chambered machine, which draws two numbers from 1 to 40. After the first number is drawn, the machine is restarted to draw the second number. To win a prize, one must match the numbers in exact order.
• STL Swer3 uses a three-chamber machine, with each one drawing a number from 0 to 9. Until October 1, 2019(4PM), it is originally single-chambered, but now it uses three separate chambers. It is similar to 3D Lotto in gameplay.
• STL Swer2 uses a two-chamber machine, each one drawing a number from 0 to 9. Like STL Swer3, it is also originally single-chambered, until October 1, 2019(4PM), and is formerly known as STL 2-Digits.

Defunct games[]

• Power Lotto 5-55+1 was introduced in June 17, 2008 and uses 2 Mega Gems, the larger one draws 5 numbers out of 55 balls, and another one draws one ball out of 10 balls numbered from 1 to 10 for the power number. Its minimum jackpot is PHP 50,000,000.00. The odds of winning the jackpot are at 1 in 34,787,610. It was replaced by Grand Lotto 6/55 in April 2010.

Hosts[]

• Romi Sison (Monday host)
• Dindo De Viterbo (Tuesday Host)
• Sherrie Pamintuan (Wednesday Host)
• Erik Imson (Thursday Host)
• Queenie Balita-Arañas (Friday Host)
• Jasper Espino (Saturday Host)
• Pilar Pinga-Cruz (Sunday Host)

Production[]

In 2003, the program was put into hiatus for the first time and was resumed in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

On July 27, 2019, the program was put into temporary hiatus for the second time following an verbal order from President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend all gambling-related operations of PCSO due to corruption allegations. However, the program partially resumed on July 31 as the suspension of the lotto game was lifted by the President. The Small Town Lottery, among other games, which has a segment in the program, remains suspended until August 22, 2019.^[6][7]

On March 17, 2020, the program was put into temporary hiatus for the third time, as PCSO gaming operations and small-town lotteries in Luzon (later expanded to Visayas and Mindanao on April 7) were suspended for the second time following the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.^{[8][9][10][11]} but the program partially resumed for the second time on July 20, 2020 with a catch-up draw for tickets sold prior to the suspension of the gaming operations during the enhanced community quarantine.^[12] and the program fully resumed, along with lotto operations on August 7^[13] (originally scheduled on August 4) in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), The Small Town Lottery, among other games, which has a segment in the program, remains suspended.^[14][15][16]

See also[]

• Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
• Gambling in the Philippines

References[]

External links[]

• Daily Lotto Results Website - PCSOBall
• PCSO Official Website