How to play PCSO lotto
A complete, plain-language guide for first-time players. Covers every PCSO game — buying a ticket, choosing numbers, Lucky Pick, System Play, Rambolito, your real odds, ticket prices, prize tiers, tax, e-Lotto, and how to claim if you win. Ang mga hakbang ay pareho para sa buong Pilipinas.
Reference for readers — always confirm prices and rules at an authorized outlet or on pcso.gov.ph. You must be 18 or older to play.
Quick start — the whole thing in 4 steps
Sa madaling salita: pumunta sa outlet, magbigay ng 6 na numero o sabihing “Lucky Pick”, bayaran, at itago ang tiket hanggang sa draw.
Go to an authorized PCSO outlet
Tell the teller your game and numbers
Pay and take your printed ticket
Sign the back, then check results after the draw
Lotto words, in plain terms
Sa madaling salita: ito ang ibig sabihin ng mga salitang naririnig sa outlet.
- Combination
- One set of numbers on one line of your ticket. Each combination is paid for separately.
- Lucky Pick (LP)
- The machine picks random numbers for you. Sabihin lang sa teller na “Lucky Pick” — hindi mo na kailangan mag-sulat.
- System Play
- You choose more than 6 numbers. The machine then plays every possible 6-number combination from them. More chances, but you pay for every combination.
- Straight
- For digit games (Swertres, EZ2, 4D, 6D): your digits must come out in the exact same order.
- Rambolito
- For digit games: your digits can come out in any order and you still win. Mas madaling tamaan, mas maliit ang premyo.
- Rollover
- When nobody wins the jackpot, the prize money is carried over and added to the next draw. That is why jackpots grow.
- Shared jackpot
- If two or more tickets match all 6 numbers, the jackpot is divided equally among them.
- Documentary stamp tax (DST)
- A small government tax added on top of the base price of each play, collected at the outlet.
1. Choose your game
Sa madaling salita: may 2 uri — “jackpot games” kung saan pumipili ka ng 6 na numero, at “digit games” tulad ng Swertres at EZ2.
Jackpot games — pick 6 numbers
| Game | Pick | Draw days | Chance of jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/42 | 6 of 1–42 | Tue · Thu · Sat | 1 in 5,245,786 |
| Mega Lotto 6/45 | 6 of 1–45 | Mon · Wed · Fri | 1 in 8,145,060 |
| Super Lotto 6/49 | 6 of 1–49 | Tue · Thu · Sun | 1 in 13,983,816 |
| Grand Lotto 6/55 | 6 of 1–55 | Mon · Wed · Sat | 1 in 28,989,675 |
| Ultra Lotto 6/58 | 6 of 1–58 | Tue · Fri · Sun | 1 in 40,475,358 |
Digit games — choose digits in order
- 6D Lotto — 6 digits (0–9), Tue/Thu/Sat
- 4D Lotto — 4 digits (0–9), Mon/Wed/Fri
- 3D Swertres — 3 digits (0–9), every day at 2 PM, 5 PM, 9 PM
- 2D EZ2 — 2 numbers (1–31), every day at 2 PM, 5 PM, 9 PM
See the full PCSO draw schedule.
2. Buy at an authorized outlet
Sa madaling salita: sa PCSO outlet lang bumili. Pagkatapos, pirmahan agad ang likod ng tiket.
- You must be 18 or older. Bring a little extra for the documentary stamp tax.
- A ticket cannot be cancelled once printed — check it before you pay attention elsewhere.
- Sign the back right away. An unsigned ticket can be claimed by anyone who holds it.
- Keep it away from heat, water, and folding. A damaged barcode can delay a claim.
3. Pick your numbers
Sa madaling salita: may 3 paraan — ikaw ang pumili, hayaan ang makina (Lucky Pick), o System Play para sa mas maraming kombinasyon.
A. Pick them yourself
Shade 6 numbers on the play slip (jackpot games), or write your digits in the order you want (digit games). There is no “better” combination — every set has the same chance.
B. Lucky Pick (LP)
Say “Lucky Pick” and the machine chooses for you. Same odds, no slip needed. Fastest option.
C. System Play (jackpot games only)
Choose more than 6 numbers; the machine plays every 6-number combination. You pay for each one.
| You choose | Combinations played | Cost (6/55 at ₱20/line) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 numbers | 7 | ₱140 |
| 8 numbers | 28 | ₱560 |
| 9 numbers | 84 | ₱1,680 |
| 10 numbers | 210 | ₱4,200 |
Straight vs Rambolito (digit games only)
Sa madaling salita: Straight = eksaktong pagkakasunod. Rambolito = kahit anong ayos, panalo — pero mas maliit ang premyo.
Example: you play 3 - 4 - 7 in Swertres
- Straight: you win only if the draw is exactly 3 4 7. Prize is around ₱4,500 per ₱12 play.
- Rambolito:you win if the draw is 3 4 7, 4 7 3, 7 3 4, 3 7 4, 4 3 7, or 7 4 3 — any of 6 orders. Prize is around ₱750.
- If two of your digits are the same (e.g. 3 3 7), there are only 3 possible orders, so that Rambolito prize is higher (around ₱1,500).
Real odds of winning
Sa madaling salita: napakaliit ng tsansa sa jackpot. Maglaro lang ng kaya mong mawala.
| Game | Jackpot / Straight | Smallest prize |
|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/42 | 1 in 5,245,786 | 1 in 37 (match 3) |
| Mega Lotto 6/45 | 1 in 8,145,060 | 1 in 45 (match 3) |
| Super Lotto 6/49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | 1 in 57 (match 3) |
| Grand Lotto 6/55 | 1 in 28,989,675 | 1 in 79 (match 3) |
| Ultra Lotto 6/58 | 1 in 40,475,358 | 1 in 92 (match 3) |
| 3D Swertres | 1 in 1,000 | 1 in 167 (Rambolito) |
| 2D EZ2 | 1 in 961 | 1 in 481 (Rambolito) |
| 4D Lotto | 1 in 10,000 | — |
| 6D Lotto | 1 in 1,000,000 | 1 in 100 (last 2 digits) |
Jackpot-game odds are the exact number of possible 6-number combinations. Digit-game odds assume all-different digits.
How much it costs
Sa madaling salita: ₱24 kada linya sa jackpot games, ₱12 sa digit games. Dumadami ang bayad kapag maraming kombinasyon o maraming draws.
| What you play | Roughly costs |
|---|---|
| 1 jackpot-game combination, 1 draw | ₱24 |
| 1 combination for all 3 draws that week | ₱72 |
| 5 combinations, 1 draw | ₱120 |
| System 7 (see table above), 1 draw | ₱140 |
| 1 Swertres combination, 1 draw | ₱12 |
Base price is ₱20 for jackpot games and about ₱10 for digit games; the rest is documentary stamp tax. Exact totals are shown on your ticket.
Prizes — jackpot games
Sa madaling salita: may 4 na antas ng premyo. Hindi kailangang tama ang pagkakasunod ng numero.
| Tier | Match | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 6 of 6 | Whole jackpot (shared if more than one winner) |
| 2nd | 5 of 6 | Fixed pool, shared among 5-number winners |
| 3rd | 4 of 6 | Fixed pool, shared |
| 4th | 3 of 6 | Small fixed amount per winner |
Current prize amounts are announced with each draw result. Check pcso.gov.ph or our results page.
Prizes — digit games
Sa madaling salita: nakapirmi ang premyo sa digit games — ito ang tinatawag na “fixed prize.”
2D Lotto (2 numbers)
Per ₱10–₱12 play (PCSO)
- Standard (exact order)
- ₱4,000.00
- Rambolito
- ₱2,000.00
Unofficial summary for readers — verify prizes and play rules with PCSO before playing.
3D Lotto (3 numbers)
Per ₱10–₱12 play (PCSO)
- Straight (exact order)
- ₱4,500.00 (approx.; typical 3D mechanics)
- Rambolito (3 different digits)
- ₱750.00
- Rambolito (1 pair + 1 digit)
- ₱1,500.00
Unofficial summary for readers — verify prizes and play rules with PCSO before playing.
4D Lotto (4 numbers)
Per ₱10–₱12 play (PCSO)
- 1st prize (4 of 4)
- Minimum guaranteed ₱10,000.00
- 2nd prize (last 3)
- ₱800.00
- 3rd prize (last 2)
- ₱100.00
Unofficial summary for readers — verify prizes and play rules with PCSO before playing.
6D Lotto (6 numbers)
Per ₱10–₱12 play (PCSO)
- 1st prize (6 of 6)
- Minimum guaranteed ₱150,000.00
- 2nd prize (first / last 5)
- ₱40,000.00
- 3rd prize (first / last 4)
- ₱4,000.00
- 4th prize (first / last 3)
- ₱400.00
- 5th prize (first / last 2)
- ₱40.00
Unofficial summary for readers — verify prizes and play rules with PCSO before playing.
Reading your printed ticket
Sa madaling salita: tingnan agad kung tama ang laro, petsa ng draw, at ang mga numero bago umalis sa outlet.
PCSO — GRAND LOTTO 6/55
Draw: Sat 06 Sep 2026 · 9:00 PM
A. 07-14-23-31-42-49
B. LP 02-11-19-28-33-51
Draws played: 1
Amount: ₱48
Ticket No. 1234-5678-9012
- Game & draw date
- which game and which draw night your ticket is for
- Your numbers
- the combinations the machine recorded — check these carefully
- Amount paid
- total cost, including tax and number of draws
- Draw / ticket number
- unique reference used when claiming
- Barcode
- scanned at the outlet to verify a win
4. Check the results
Sa madaling salita: ang draw ay 9:00 PM (Swertres at EZ2 pati 2 PM at 5 PM). Ang opisyal na resulta ay nasa PTV at pcso.gov.ph.
- Watch the live draw on PTV or the PCSO Facebook page.
- Official results are posted on pcso.gov.ph.
- You can use lottoph.info as a quick reference, then verify on the official site before claiming.
More detail: where to check lotto results · why online results can lag
5. Claim your prize
Sa madaling salita: kung saan ka mag-claim ay depende sa halaga. Dalhin ang orihinal na tiket at isang valid ID. May 1 taon ka para mag-claim.
- 1Up to ₱10,000
Any authorized lotto outlet
Paid in cash on the spot. No tax.
- 2₱10,001 – ₱300,000
Nearest PCSO Branch / Provincial District Office
Bring the ticket and one valid government ID.
- 3Over ₱300,000 (and all jackpots)
PCSO Main Office (Metro Manila) — check pcso.gov.ph for the current address
By appointment. 20% tax is deducted before payout.
Full checklist: how to claim lotto prizes in the Philippines.
Tax on winnings
Sa madaling salita: ₱10,000 pababa — walang buwis. Higit ₱10,000— 20% ang kaltas bago mo matanggap.
Example: a ₱50,000,000 jackpot for a single winner. 20% tax (₱10,000,000) is deducted, so the take-home amount is about ₱40,000,000. A ₱20 Swertres win is paid in full because it is below ₱10,000.
Playing online (e-Lotto)
Sa madaling salita: may opisyal na PCSO e-Lotto. Ang ibang website o Facebook seller ay HINDI opisyal.
- Register on the official PCSO e-Lotto platform with a valid government ID. You must be 18+ and inside the Philippines.
- Load your wallet through the approved payment channels, then buy from your phone or computer.
- Winnings are credited to your e-Lotto wallet; larger prizes still require a visit to PCSO.
- If a site or seller is not the official PCSO platform, treat it as a scam — walang ibang lehitimong online seller ng PCSO tickets.
Stay safe
Sa madaling salita: walang paraan para “siguradong” manalo. Iwasan ang nagbebenta ng “winning numbers.”
- Nobody can predict the draw. Anyone selling guaranteed numbers or “tips” for a fee is scamming you.
- PCSO will never message you to say you won a draw you did not enter.
- Play for fun with money you can afford to lose. If it stops being fun, stop.
- Learn to spot fakes: how to spot fake lotto result posts.
Common questions
- Paano maglaro ng lotto for the first time?
- Go to any authorized PCSO outlet, tell the teller which game you want (for example “Grand Lotto 6/55”), then either give 6 numbers or say “Lucky Pick” to let the machine choose. Pay for your ticket, sign the back, and keep it safe until the draw.
- How much is a lotto ticket?
- Jackpot games (6/42 to 6/58) cost ₱20 per combination, which becomes about ₱24 after the documentary stamp tax. Digit games (3D, 2D, 4D) cost about ₱12 per combination. Confirm the current price at your outlet.
- Does the order of my 6 numbers matter?
- No. For all jackpot games (6/42, 6/45, 6/49, 6/55, 6/58), any arrangement of your 6 numbers that matches the draw wins. Order only matters for the digit games, and only if you play Straight.
- What is Lucky Pick?
- Lucky Pick (LP) means the lotto machine randomly generates your numbers. You do not choose them. It has the exact same chance of winning as numbers you pick yourself.
- What is Rambolito in Swertres and EZ2?
- Rambolito lets any arrangement of your chosen digits win. It is easier to hit than Straight, but the prize is smaller. Straight pays more but your digits must come out in the exact order.
- What happens if nobody wins the jackpot?
- The jackpot rolls over: it is added to the prize for the next draw and keeps growing until someone matches all 6 numbers.
- How long do I have to claim a prize?
- One year from the draw date. After that the ticket can no longer be paid.
- Is a lotto prize taxed?
- Prizes of ₱10,000 and below are tax-free. Prizes above ₱10,000 have a 20% tax deducted before you are paid.
- Can I really play lotto online?
- Only through the official PCSO e-Lotto platform, and you must register with a valid ID and be in the Philippines. Any other website or Facebook seller offering PCSO tickets is not official and may be a scam.
Guides for one specific game
Sa madaling salita: gusto mo ng detalye para sa isang laro? Ito ang step-by-step, odds, at premyo para sa bawat isa.