PCSO lotto: how to buy ticket, play and claim prize

MANILA, Philippines – In July 2024, buying of lotto tickets was reverted to traditional or via authorized lotto outlets only after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) stopped operations of the E-Lotto, the digital counterpart of the traditional lottery games.

PCSO said a new and improved platform will come out soon and they are gearing up to make E-Lotto services better.

Buying of ticket via lotto outlet

PCSO lotto tickets are available via authorized lotto outlets nationwide, including the newly launched “LotoMatik,” which seeks to make lotto tickets and games accessible and available even in remote areas in the country.

Buying of tickets is from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm only. Major draws daily is scheduled at 9:00 pm.

Price of major lotto ticket is still Php 20 per combination (inclusive of 20% Documentary Stamp Tax or DST).

Reminder: You must be at least 18 years old to buy lotto ticket or claim your winnings. Players have the sole responsibility for checking the accuracy of the data printed on your ticket(s) including bet type, bet amount, the draw date you want to enter and the numbers you want to play.

Schedule of PCSO lotto draws

PCSO is conducting lottery draws daily. Below is the complete schedule and take note of the selling time of tickets.

Major Lotto	Schedule
Lotto 6/42	Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
MegaLotto 6/45	Monday, Wednesday and Friday
SuperLotto 6/49	Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
GrandLotto 6/55	Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
UltraLotto 6/58	Tuesday, Friday and Sunday

3D, 2D Schedule	Selling Time	Draw Time
1st Draw	7:00 am to 1:45 pm	2:00 PM
2nd Draw	2:05 pm to 4:45 pm	5:00 PM
3rd Draw	5:05 pm to 8:00 pm	9:00 PM

Additional digit games	Schedule 9PM Draw
4D Lotto	Monday, Wednesday, Friday
6D Lotto	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

How to play PCSO lotto in current system

A. For the five major games – Ultra Lotto 6/58, Grand Lotto 6/55, Super Lotto 6/49, Mega Lotto 6/45, Lotto 6/42

1. Select your six (6) number-combination, from 1 to maximum number per lotto game (e.g. 58 for 6/58 and 55 for 6/55).

You may also choose your combination via Lucky Pick, in which computer will randomly generate your six numbers.

2. You can even play your selected numbers up to six consecutive draws in advance by marking the preferred number of draws in DRAW column on the playslip. If an error is made, mark the VOID box to indicate that the board is cancelled.

3. If you want to increase your chance of winning, you may go with the System Play or System bet.

In System 5-Roll, a bettor picks only five numbers and—for the sixth digit—pairs these off with each of the remaining numbers (e.g. 50 for 6/55 and 53 for 6/58).

On the other hand, a System 7 bet pertains to a selection of seven numbers where a total of 7 possible combinations could be drawn.

For example, if you chose 7 digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, the number of possible 6-digit combination is 7.

Combination 1: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Combination 2: 1 2 3 4 5 7
Combination 3: 1 2 3 4 6 7
Combination 4: 1 2 3 5 6 7
Combination 5: 1 2 4 5 6 7
Combination 6: 1 3 4 5 6 7
Combination 7: 2 3 4 5 6 7

It means buying 7 tickets. Total bet cost is Php 140 (7 x Php 20).

Here's System Play bet cost per type:

SYSTEM PLAY		TOTAL BET COST (Php)
System 5-Roll	6/42: 37 possible selections	740
	6/45: 40 possible selections	800
	6/49: 44 possible selections	880
	6/55: 50 possible selections	1,000
	6/58: 53 possible selections	1,060
System 7	7 possible selections	140
System 8	28 possible selections	560
System 9	84 possible selections	1,680
System 10	210 possible selections	4,200
System 11	462 possible selections	9,240
System 12	924 possible selections	18,480

4. To win the jackpot, you must match your 6-number combination to the numbers drawn. Consolation prizes are also available for anyone who matches any 3, 4, or 5 numbers.

CATEGORY	HOW TO WIN	PRIZE (Php)
2nd   Prize	5 of 6 numbers	100,000
3rd   Prize	4 of 6 numbers	1,500
4th   Prize	3 of 6 numbers	60

If you go for System play, more prizes await you.

B. 2D (EZ2) and 3D (Swertres) Lotto

Using the 2D Lotto playslip, select a set of two (2) numbers from 1 to 31. You may also play the Lucky Pick (LP) if you do not have any number in mind. After marking your chosen numbers, mark the amount that you’re going to play for each combination.

You can also mark “Rambolito” if you want to play the 2D Lotto System bet. The minimum play amount is 12.00 per 2-number combination.

In playing via Advance Draws, mark how many consecutive draws you want to play in the DRAW panel. You can play the same numbers and play type for six (6) consecutive draws. Pay 12.00 for each play per draw.

You win 4,000.00 for every 12.00 play, if your selected 2-number combination match the winning 2-number combination in exact order. If you have selected the winning 2-number combination and have chosen the “Rambolito” game, you win 2,000.00 for every 12.00 play.

GAME TYPE	PRIZES (Php)
Standard Play (getting all Two numbers drawn in exact order)	4,000
Rambolito	2,000

For 3D Lotto, select three numbers, from 0 to 9 or mark the Lucky Pick (LP) box and let the terminal randomly pick your number.

You may also want to play the Rambolito. Select a 3-digit number combination and the system will automatically permutate and generate all its possible combinations. If the selected 3-digit combination has no repeating digits, e.g.123, the number of combinations generated will be six (6). If the selected 3-digit combination has two (2) repeating digits, e.g. 122, the number of combinations generated will be three (3). Lucky Pick is also available in the Rambolito System Play, but the option of repeating digits is not applicable.

Matching all your numbers with the winning combination in exact order gives you 4,500.00 for every 12.00 play. If you have picked the correct 3-number and have chosen the “Rambolito” game, you win:

RAMBOLITO SELECTION	NO. OF COMBINATION	PRIZES (per 12.00 play)
3 different digits	6	750
1 pair of the same digit and 2 different digits	3	1,500.00

B. 4D and 6D Lotto

4D games are played by selecting a 4-digit number from 0000 to 9999. In addition to the selected number, players must also indicate the desired play type and the amount to be played. The cost may vary based on the play amount marked. Minimum play amount is 10.00 per 4-number combination.

How much the player wins for 1st prize category is by pari-mutuel basis, that is, dividing the allocated prize money equally among the winners. The first prize Minimum Guaranteed Amount (MGA) for this game is 10,000.00.

There are several ways of playing 4-Digit games. You may go for STANDARD play by simply marking one (1) number from 0 to 9 on each of the 4 columns on the 4 Digit play slip or may also use the Lucky Pick (LP).

Players may opt to play the PERM, this play type is simply a straight play of all the possible arrangements (permutations) of the number.

Meanwhile, to play the 6D Lotto, select one (1) number from 0 to 9 in each of the 6 columns in any panel. Or simply tell the lotto teller your numbers and how much you want to play. You can also go for the Lucky Pick (LP), if you do not have any numbers in mind.

Ticket cost may vary based on the play amount marked. Mark the desired play amount on the AMT column. Minimum play amount is 10.00 per 6 number combination but you may play more than 10.00 per combination.

To play the same numbers for consecutive draws, just mark the number of draws you want to play in the DRAW panel. You can play 2 up to 6 consecutive draws.

If an error is made, mark the “VOID” box to indicate that the board is cancelled.

How and where to claim lotto prize?

1. Write your name and affix your signature at the back of your winning tickets before claiming your prize.

2. Prize amounting to 20.00 up to 10,000.00 can be claimed at any authorized Lotto outlet or at the PCSO Branch Offices in your area.

3. Prizes from 10,001.00 and up to 300,000.00 can be claimed at the PCSO Branch Offices in your area or at the PCSO Main Office 2nd Floor.

4. Prizes from 300,001.00 and up to JACKPOT PRIZE should be validated and claimed at the PCSO Main Office 2nd Floor.

5. For the system prize payout, please refer to the Prize Pay-Out Chart at PCSO official website.

NOTE: Prizes above 10,000.00 are subject to 20% tax pursuant to TRAIN Law.

— The Summit Express