PCSO Lottery Draw

History

Draw procedure

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.

The Games

Pari-mutuel games

• Lotto 6/42 is the flagship lotto draw, first introduced in 1995. The game was initially introduced in Luzon, with a separate game for "VisMin" 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 is 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 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 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. 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 jackpot, the largest won.

• 4D Lotto 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. It is held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• 6D Lotto 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 last February 11, 2020. It is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

  Fixed payout games

• 3D Lotto uses a three-chambered Mega Gem, each drawing a digit from 0 to 9. The 3D Lotto is drawn 3 times daily, Monday-Sunday. The nationwide draws are the morning, afternoon and evening . This game perhaps is the most popular among the fixed payout games, garnering a solid following in social media especially through varied Facebook groups.

• 2D Lotto 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 . The 2D Lotto is drawn 3 times daily, Monday-Sunday. The nationwide draws are the morning, afternoon and evening .

  Small Town Lottery games

• 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, 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, and is formerly known as STL 2-Digits.

  Defunct games

• Power Lotto 5-55+1 Power Lotto 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 on April 2010.

  Hosts

Current hosts

Main hosts

• Erik Imson
• Romi Sison
• Jasper Espino
• Dindo de Viterbo
• Sherrie Pamintuan
• Pilar Pinga Cruz
• Queenie Balita-Aranas
• Fe Celebrado III
• Rizza Roxas-De Leon

  Handog Pasasalamat sa Pamilyang Pilipino hosts (guest hosts)

• Dennis Padilla
• Gary Lim

  Previous hosts

• Tonette Escario
• Dr. Jun Dequina
• Joel Pastores
• Trixie Abogado
• Kathy de Leon Villar
• Tina Revilla
• Timmy Cruz
• Charisse de Castro
• Shelly Anne

  Draw coordinators

• Ariel de Ocampo
• Eugene Muyot

  Production