The PCSO Lottery Draws (formerly Philippine Lotto Draw and Philippine Lottery Draw) is a Philippine television game show broadcast on IBC and D8TV (via BEAM TV transmitters), under a joint venture between the two networks and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Lotto draws were first aired on PTV/NBN from March 8, 1995 to July 27, 2019; and again from July 31, 2019 to December 30, 2024. The program's production involving the PCSO workforce consisting of more than 2,000 employees. The program consists of the drawing of both the parimutuel and fixed payout lottery games, as well as select sweepstakes games. On November 15, 2017, it added the centralized draws of the Small Town Lottery (Pares, Swer3 and Swer2) for provinces that do not conduct its own local STL draws.
The program is also simulcast over DWAN 1206 AM, select Brigada News FM stations in the provinces, as well as PCSO and IBC's websites, Facebook pages and YouTube channels. The show's audio component formerly aired on DWWW, DZRB, DZRH, DWIZ, DZME and DZIQ.
History The program was launched on March 8, 1995, under the title Philippine Lotto Draw, with original hosts Tina Revilla, Kathy De Leon-Villar and various other hosts (including Timmy Cruz) until September 30, 2004.
In 2013, the program changed its name to Philippine Lottery Draw.
Since 2016, the show has been known as the 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. In the segment, five families from a selected barangay would receive various items, such as groceries, as well as cash prizes from a sponsor usually associated with the PCSO. The segment is hosted by one of the main hosts and either guest co-host Dennis Padilla or Gary Lim. It is held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
In October 2022, 433 people struck the jackpot in a single draw day, which became the highest number of people to win the Grand Lotto's top prize. This prompted suspicion among many, including statistics experts.
By November 18, 2023, all previous hosts of the program resigned and were replaced by a new set of hosts consisting of beauty queens, artists, indie acting performers, TV hosts, social media personalities and content creators.
Draw procedure Before every draw, a clip is aired showing the inspection earlier in the day of the blowing machines, called "Mega Gems", and the balls to be used for each game. The inspections are done to ensure fairness and that 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 both these proceedings and the draw itself to see to it that everything goes according to protocol. The pre-draw procedure is as follows: 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 to the actual draw. 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 colour, and each set may have a different colour. In the digit games such as the 6D Lotto, no matter the set is chosen, each digit from 0 to 9 has a different colour, and each set is identical. In Small Town Lottery games, all balls are of one colour. 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. 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, 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 numbered balls one at a time, with each ball 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 the Power Lotto (mentioned below) is a compound version of the two types of Mega Gems mentioned above. The chamber that draws the main five numbers has its ball-loading bays placed at the back but has a separate tube where the five drawn number balls are directed. It is operated the same way as the Mega Gem used in the other number lottery games. The chamber that draws the power number is the same one used in the 6D Lotto draw. The first chamber is first turned on to draw the five main numbers. Afterwards, the first chamber is turned off and the second chamber is then switched on to draw the power number. After the power number has been drawn, the entire machine is 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 to touch the balls. In the digit lottery games and the 2D Lotto with top drawing Mega Gems, the balls used to be adjusted to clearly show the numbers drawn. Because of the nature of the Power Lotto Mega Gem, each of the methods mentioned were applied to each of the machine's two chambers.
However, since the launch of Bingo Milyonaryo in 2013, the balls are no longer adjusted. Instead, the numbers on the balls are read on the spot by the host. This applies to all games.
Games The PCSO Lottery Draw currently hosts a total of nine games, each with its own combinations and mechanics of play.
The number lottery games are:
Pari-mutuel games , one ticket of a game below costs ; previously, it was ₱10 from 1995 to 2013, ₱20 from 2013 to 2018, ₱24 from 2018 to 2020 and back to ₱20 from 2020 to 2026.
Under the TRAIN Law, PCSO Lotto winnings exceeding PHP10,000.00 are subject to a 20% final tax. Prizes amounting to PHP10,000.00 or less are tax-exempt. This tax is withheld automatically by the PCSO before payment to the winner.
+ Summary of winning prize range and place to claim winning prize Winning prize range Place to claim winning prize to Any authorized Lotto outlet or any PCSO branch office to PCSO main office or any PCSO branch office to jackpot PCSO main office only
+ Summary of betting payments per draw Game Betting price per ticket per draw Straight(Default) System 5R System 7 System 8 System 9 System 10 System 11 System 12 Lotto 6/42 Mega Lotto 6/45 Super Lotto 6/49 Grand Lotto 6/55 Ultra Lotto 6/58
+ Summary of betting payments for 6 draws Game Betting price per ticket for 6 draws Straight(Default) System 5R System 7 System 8 System 9 System 10 System 11 System 12 Lotto 6/42 Mega Lotto 6/45 Super Lotto 6/49 Grand Lotto 6/55 Ultra Lotto 6/58
+ Summary of maximum betting payments per betting slip Game Number of betting tickets per betting slip Maximum betting price per betting slip Lotto 6/42 6 Mega Lotto 6/45 Super Lotto 6/49 Grand Lotto 6/55 4 Ultra Lotto 6/58
+ Summary of odds of winning jackpot Game Odds of winning jackpot Straight(Default) System 5R System 7 System 8 System 9 System 10 System 11 System 12 Lotto 6/42 1 in 5,245,786 1 in 141,778 1 in 749,398 1 in 187,350 1 in 62,450 1 in 24,980 1 in 11,355 1 in 5,678 Mega Lotto 6/45 1 in 8,145,060 1 in 203,627 1 in 1,163,580 1 in 290,895 1 in 96,965 1 in 38,786 1 in 17,630 1 in 8,815 Super Lotto 6/49 1 in 13,983,816 1 in 317,814 1 in 1,997,688 1 in 499,422 1 in 166,474 1 in 66,590 1 in 30,268 1 in 15,134 Grand Lotto 6/55 1 in 28,989,675 1 in 579,794 1 in 4,141,383 1 in 1,035,346 1 in 345,116 1 in 138,047 1 in 62,749 1 in 31,375 Ultra Lotto 6/58 1 in 40,475,358 1 in 763,686 1 in 5,782,194 1 in 1,445,549 1 in 481,850 1 in 192,740 1 in 87,609 1 in 43,805
+ Summary of jackpot winnings and consolation prizes Game Jackpot Consolation prizes Minimum Largest 5 winning numbers 4 winning numbers 3 winning numbers Lotto 6/42 Mega Lotto 6/45 Super Lotto 6/49 Grand Lotto 6/55 Ultra Lotto 6/58
+ Summary of when betting all combinations Game Number of betting slips needed Amount needed Difference from the jackpot Straight System 12 Difference Straight System 12 Difference Minimum Largest Lotto 6/42 874,298 947 873,351 – – – Mega Lotto 6/45 1,357,510 1,470 1,356,040 – – Super Lotto 6/49 2,330,636 2,523 2,328,113 – Grand Lotto 6/55 7,247,419 7,844 7,239,575 – – Ultra Lotto 6/58 10,118,840 10,952 10,107,888 – –
Lotto 6/42 is the flagship lotto draw, first introduced on 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 November 9, 2004. 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 those of the six winning numbers. Its minimum jackpot is PHP10,000,000.00 (was until January 31, 2026).Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office: Lotto 6/42 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. On June 3, 2025, its largest jackpot won was PHP102,346,298.00 by one bettor.Lone bettor wins P102.3 million 6/42 lotto jackpot First winner of minimum jackpot since February 1, 2026 occurred on March 21, 2026.March 21: Lotto 6/42 ticket wins P10 million jackpot Mega Lotto 6/45 was introduced on May 17, 1997, and a more improved version of the 6/42 draw and is also introduced as a 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. Its minimum jackpot is PHP15,000,000.00 (was until January 31, 2026).Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office: MegaLotto 6/45 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. On November 6, 2023, its largest jackpot won was PHP107,506,074.20 by one bettor.Megalotto 6/45 bettor wins P107.5-million jackpot | GMA News Online First winner of minimum jackpot since February 1, 2026 occurred on February 18, 2026.Lone bettor wins Feb. 18 MegaLotto 6/45 jackpot