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.
Contents
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, 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).
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
As of February 1, 2026, one ticket of a game below costs ₱25; 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.
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 ₱6,000,000 until January 31, 2026). 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. First winner of minimum jackpot since February 1, 2026 occurred on March 21, 2026.
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 ₱9,000,000 until January 31, 2026). 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. First winner of minimum jackpot since February 1, 2026 occurred on February 18, 2026.
Super Lotto 6/49 was introduced on July 16, 2000, further decreasing odds and making winning more difficult than the previous two, this time with a lot of numbers ranging from 1 to 49. Draw mechanics are the same. Its minimum jackpot is PHP25,000,000.00 (was ₱16,000,000 until January 31, 2026). The odds of winning are now higher at 1 in 13,983,816. Draws are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On January 17, 2024, its largest jackpot won was PHP640,654,817.60 by one bettor. First winner of minimum jackpot since February 1, 2026 occurred on May 10, 2026.
Fixed payout games
3D Lotto was launched on June 13, 2002, as Swertres Lotto, a portmanteau of the words swerte (Filipino for luck) and tres (Spanish for three), in Visayas and Mindanao (later expanded to Luzon in 2006). It uses three Gems, each drawing a digit from 0 to 9. The 3D Lotto game is drawn 3 (three) times daily, Monday-Sunday. Originally, the nationwide draws are in the morning (11 AM), afternoon (4 PM), and evening (9 PM). Since August 24, 2020, the new timeslot are adjusted to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM (all timeslots are live). This game is arguably the most popular among the fixed payout games, garnering a solid following in social media, especially through a variety of Facebook groups.
A multitude of websites have also been created and are updated regularly 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 in the game—this despite the results having been randomly drawn.
2D Lotto was launched on July 5, 2004, as EZ2 Lotto in Luzon (later expanded to Visayas and Mindanao in 2006). It uses two Standard Dailies, each of which draws a number from a lot of 1 to 31, ensuring no 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 the exact order are 1 in 961. The odds in LLAVE order are 1 in 465. Therefore 465 numbers are LLave (Rambol) (01-02, 02–01). Just like the 3D Lotto, the 2D Lotto is drawn 3 (three) times daily (2PM, 5PM, and 9PM) , Monday-Sunday.
Small Town Lottery games
From November 15, 2017, to March 17, 2020 (11 AM), centralized Small Town Lottery games were added to the show. The results of these draws were for provinces that did not have a local franchise of STL. The Small Town Lottery games are also held three times daily. Originally, the centralized Small Town Lottery was held every 11 AM, 4 PM, and 9 PM. The Small Town Lottery ceased conducting a centralized draw. Instead, it conducts a localized draw, with separate games for Visayas and Mindanao only (every 10:30 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM).
STL Pares uses a single-chambered machine, which draws two numbers from 1 to 40. After the first number is drawn, the machine 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(4 PM), 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(4 PM), and is formerly known as STL 2-Digits.
As of September 2023, the Small Town Lottery Authorized Agent Corporations (AAC) listed some areas from Visayas and Mindanao will be used for the National Draw Results for their operations.
Defunct games
Power Lotto 5-55+1 was introduced on June 17, 2008, and used 1 Saturn and 1 Gem, the Saturn draws 5 numbers out of 55 balls numbered from 1 to 55, and the Gem 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.
Bingo Milyonaryo was introduced in 2013, not only it was played at 9pm, it was also played during the 11am and 4pm draws. The first 4 machines (B, I, N, and G) are numbers 0 to 9 while the other 2 machines (O and M) are numbers 0 to 38. It was discontinued in 2015 in favor of Ultra Lotto 6/58.
Hosts
Current hosts
Mari De Leon
Jerome Sang
Queen Semana
Jhay Torres
Nyca Bernardo
Tracy Perez
William Thio
Fiona Gicale
Jasmine Omay
Ashlee Tuason
Than Perez
Zac Papin
Eve Valdez
Mark Reyes
Adam Resurreccion
Former hosts
Katherine de Leon (1995–2004)
Tina Revilla (1999–2004)
Timmy Cruz (2000–2004)
Erik Imson (2004–2023; moved to GMA Network)
Dindo de Viterbo (2004–2021; moved to TV5)
Joel Pastores (2004–2014; moved to Net 25)
Jasper Espino (2004–2023; moved to Net 25)
Romi Sison (2004–2023; moved to TV5)
Tonette Escario (2004–2014; moved to Net 25)
Dr. Jun Dequina (2004–2014; moved to GMA Network)
Charisse de Castro (2011–2017)
Shelly Anne Busque (2011–2014)
Trixie Abogado (2011–2014)
Pilar Pinga Cruz (2015–2020)
Rizza De Leon (2018–2020)
Queenie Balita-Aranas (2015–2023)
Fe Celebrado III (2017–2023)
Sherrie Pamintuan (2011–2023)
Princess Laurel-Elefante (2023)
Gina Donato (2023)
Baileys Acot (2023–2024)
Samantha Ashley Lo (2024–2025)
Production timeline
July 27, 2019: the program was put on temporary hiatus following a verbal order from President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend all gambling-related operations of PCSO along with the MTRCB's Live on PTV 4, due to corruption allegations. However, the program was partially resumed on July 31 when the suspension of the lotto games was lifted by the President. The Small Town Lottery remained suspended until August 22, 2019.
March 17, 2020: the program was put into temporary hiatus for the second time, as PCSO gaming operations and small-town lotteries in Luzon (later expanded to Visayas and Mindanao on April 7) were suspended following the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The program once again partially resumed on July 20, 2020, to hold catch-up draws for all tickets sold prior to the suspension of the gaming operations during the enhanced community quarantine. The program fully resumed, along with PCSO's lotto operations, on August 7 (originally scheduled on August 4) in areas already under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), The Small Town Lottery, among other games, remained suspended.
July 30, 2022: the program was reformatted into a better and more organized version that included the following segments: Usapang STL, What You Should Know, Charity in Action, PCSO News Blitz, and Recap Time.
October 1, 2023: the program was relaunched with a "Love The Philippines" inspired theme, in partnership with the Department of Tourism.
November 18, 2023: the hosts went into a transition, from PCSO employees, to beauty pageant contestants, artists, and social media personalities.
February 19, 2024: the program reformats its Jackpot Games. For every draw of the jackpot-bearing games, PCSO's data center conducts the encoding of winning numbers and updating jackpot winners from the Remote Access Management Terminal or RAMT based on the new Lottery System and E-Lotto.
December 31, 2024: PCSO Lottery Draw started airing live on IBC and D8TV.