A lucky bettor in the rural province of Southern Leyte scooped up an 81.8 million peso ($1.4 million) jackpot in Thursday’s Lotto 6/42 drawing, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office announced Friday.
The winner matched all six numbers — 18-28-08-30-41-06 — in the popular game, which offers odds of about 1 in 5.2 million, according to PCSO officials. The prize, before taxes, totals 81,810,102 pesos.
The unidentified winner has one year to claim the windfall at the agency’s main office in Mandaluyong City, east of Manila. Under the country’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, winnings exceeding 10,000 pesos are subject to a 20% withholding tax, reducing the net payout to roughly 65.4 million pesos.
PCSO draws for the 6/42 Lotto are held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with tickets costing 20 pesos each. The game has produced several multimillion-peso winners this year, fueling public interest amid economic pressures.
Smaller prizes were also awarded in the draw: 59 bettors each received 24,000 pesos for matching five numbers, while 2,956 players pocketed 800 pesos apiece for four correct picks. An additional 44,250 entrants claimed 20 pesos each for three matches.
“Support for PCSO’s gaming products not only offers a chance at life-changing prizes but also generates vital revenues for health initiatives, medical services and national charities,” said PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles in a statement. The agency mandates contributions from its operations to fund government health programs and aid for those in medical need.
Southern Leyte, a coastal province in the Visayas region with a population of about 430,000, is known for its fishing communities and typhoon-prone geography. Local officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the win’s potential local impact.
The PCSO, a state-run entity established in 1935, channels proceeds to social welfare programs, including free medicines and disaster relief. Last year, it remitted over 50 billion pesos to government coffers, officials said.
