By What are the jackpot odds for each PCSO lotto game?
Each game asks you to pick 6 numbers. The jackpot odds equal the number of possible 6-number combinations:
| Game | Number pool | Combinations (jackpot odds) | Usual draw days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/42 | 1–42 | 1 in 5,245,786 | Tue, Thu, Sat |
| Mega Lotto 6/45 | 1–45 | 1 in 8,145,060 | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| Super Lotto 6/49 | 1–49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | Tue, Thu, Sun |
| Grand Lotto 6/55 | 1–55 | 1 in 28,989,675 | Mon, Wed, Sat |
| Ultra Lotto 6/58 | 1–58 | 1 in 40,475,358 | Tue, Fri, Sun |
Draws are normally at 9:00 PM. Schedules shift on holidays and can be revised, so confirm draw days, ticket prices and results on PCSO's official channels.
How are lotto odds calculated?
The odds come from a combination count, written C(n, 6): the number of ways to choose 6 numbers from a pool of n, where order doesn't matter. For Ultra Lotto, C(58, 6) = 58 × 57 × 56 × 55 × 54 × 53 ÷ (6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1) = 40,475,358.
Buying more lines helps only a little. Twenty different Super Lotto 6/49 combinations take you from 1 in 13,983,816 to roughly 1 in 700,000 — still far less likely than most things you'll worry about this year.
Hot numbers, cold numbers, birthdays and "lucky" apps don't move these odds. Every draw is random, and every combination has the same chance.
How do you buy a valid PCSO lotto ticket?
- Buy at an authorized PCSO lotto outlet, or through PCSO's own official online channel where one is available.
- Choose your 6 numbers, or ask for Lucky Pick to have them generated.
- Pay for each combination at the current posted price.
- Check that the numbers and draw date printed on the ticket are right, then sign the back.
- Keep the ticket flat, dry and safe — it is your only proof of a win.
Avoid people on Facebook or group chats who offer to “taya-an” you through GCash and send a photo of a ticket. A photo isn't a claimable ticket, and if they disappear, wala kang habol. See our scam warning guide for similar tricks.
How do you claim a PCSO lotto prize?
- Tax: prizes above ₱10,000 are subject to a 20% final tax.
- Where: small prizes can be claimed at authorized outlets; bigger prizes at PCSO branch offices; jackpots at the PCSO main office.
- What to bring: the original signed ticket and two valid government-issued IDs.
- Deadline: one year from the draw date. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after that.
Requirements can be updated, so check PCSO's official announcements before you travel to claim.
