More than P2.2B won by 44 lotto winners in 9 months —PCSO

A total of P2.2 billion has been distributed to 44 lotto winners in the first three quarters of 2017, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said in a statement on Friday that 16 of these winners claimed a total of P319 million from correctly placing bets in the Lotto 6/42 game; nine winners of the Mega Lotto 6/45 won P460 million in total; and eight winners in the Super Lotto 6/49 took home a total of P495 million in winnings.

In the Grand Lotto 6/55, meanwhile, six winners got a total of P444 million, while in the Ultra Lotto 6/58, the biggest lotto game offered by the PCSO, five winners shared the P542-million prize.

Balutan said P6 or 30 percent of every P20 worth of lotto ticket purchased in the games is used by the PCSO for its charity services.

“The PCSO lotto games are here to serve its purpose, to help more Filipinos through charitable services and programs. We are happy every time someone wins any of our lotto games because this will improve their lives instantly from poverty," Balutan said.

To this end, Balutan encouraged customers to continue supporting the government lottery to help the PCSO continue with their charitable programs.

“We are always into responsible gaming. Please continue patronizing our lotto game products, because not only you have a chance to be a multimillionaire just like those lucky bettors who won, you are also helping less fortunate whenever you buy a lotto ticket, as 30 percent of its sales will go to charity, including health-related services of the agency," he said. — Rie Takumi/MDM, GMA News