Super Lotto 6/49 | Be 1 of a Millionaire to Win the Jackpot

Introduction to PCSO Super Lotto 6/49

The PCSO Super Lotto 6/49 is the Philippines’ most popular lottery game operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). This lottery was launched in 1983 to generate additional revenue for health and welfare programs in the country.

Super Lotto 6/49 is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. To play, you have to choose 6 numbers from 1 to 49. There are also additional “jackpot prize bearer” number drawn from 1 to 20. To win the jackpot prize, you need to match all 6 winning numbers in any order. There are also smaller prizes for matching 3, 4 or 5 numbers.

The lottery uses a 6/49 matrix, meaning you have to pick 6 numbers from 1 to 49. The jackpot prize starts at PHP 16 million and increases every draw until there’s a winner. Super Lotto 6/49 has produced some of the biggest lottery winners in the Philippines, including the largest jackpot prize of PHP 741 million won by a lone winner in 2020.

How to Play Super Lotto 6/49

Super Lotto 6/49 is played by choosing 6 numbers from 1 to 49. You can choose your own numbers or have the numbers randomly generated via “lucky pick”.

There are a few ways to play:

Straight play – Choose 6 numbers for 20 per play. This gives you the best odds of winning the jackpot.
6/42 play – Choose 6 numbers from 1 to 42 for 12 per play. This lowers your odds of winning the jackpot but increases your overall chances of winning a prize.
6/49 Combo play – Choose 12 numbers for 32 and get 5 plays on one ticket, which gives you more chances to win.
6/49 Mega play – Choose 12 numbers for 40 and get 9 plays on one ticket, for even more chances.
6/49 Mega Combo play – Choose 18 numbers for 64 and get 36 plays on one ticket, maximizing your chances.

No matter how you play, you’ll choose 6 main numbers. The more numbers you choose, the more combinations are printed across multiple plays on your ticket. All tickets are $1 per play.

Prizes and Odds

The PCSO Super Lotto 6/49 has nine prize divisions. To win the jackpot, you must match all 6 numbers drawn.

The prize breakdown is:

Match 6 numbers: Jackpot prize – minimum of ₱8,910,000
Match 5 numbers + bonus number: ₱24,000
Match 5 numbers: ₱1,500
Match 4 numbers: ₱50
Match 3 numbers: ₱20
Match 2 numbers: ₱10

The jackpot prize starts at ₱8.9 million and increases each draw until there is a winner. The highest jackpot reached was ₱741 million in November 2020.

The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 31. This includes the jackpot prize of matching all 6 numbers up to matching just 2 numbers. The odds of winning the jackpot prize are 1 in 28,989,675.

Previous Jackpot Winners

The PCSO Super Lotto 6/49 has created many millionaires and multi-millionaires over the years. Here are some details on notable recent jackpot winners:

In 2022, a solo winner from Quezon City won the jackpot prize of ₱236 million. This was the biggest jackpot won for 2022.
In 2021, a ticket bought in Las Piñas won ₱244 million. The winner was a 59-year old housewife.
Also in 2021, two winners split the ₱378 million jackpot prize. One winner was from Cavite and the other was from Quezon City.
In 2020, there were several large jackpot prizes awarded. A ticket in Mandaluyong won ₱128 million. Another winner from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan won ₱239 million.
The biggest jackpot ever won was ₱741 million in 2018 by a winner in Talisay, Cebu.
There have also been several instances of multiple winners splitting huge jackpots, like in 2017 when two winners split ₱447 million and in 2016 when three winners split ₱455 million.

The Super Lotto 6/49 has made regular Filipino citizens into instant millionaires. People from all walks of life and locations around the Philippines have won life-changing fortune from this popular lottery game.

Where Super Lotto 6/49 Revenue Goes

The majority of revenue from Super Lotto 6/49 ticket sales goes back to players in the form of prizes. Approximately 50-55% of revenue is allocated for prize money. Another significant portion, around 35-40%, goes towards operating costs like retailer commissions, administration, advertising, and more.

The remainder, roughly 5-15% depending on the jurisdiction, goes to supporting various charities and good causes. For example, in the Philippines, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) operates Super Lotto 6/49 and other lottery games. The PCSO provides medical assistance and services to underprivileged Filipinos using proceeds from lottery games. This includes funding for medical equipment, medicines, anti-tuberculosis vaccines, hospitalization, dialysis and chemotherapy treatments, and more for those who cannot afford healthcare.

Additionally, revenue supports health programs, medical assistance for indigent patients, and charities for veterans, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Super Lotto 6/49 and other PCSO games have generated billions of pesos over the years to support disadvantaged Filipinos through charitable work.

Buying Tickets

You can buy PCSO Super Lotto 6/49 tickets both online and in-person at authorized outlets. Here are the key things to know about buying tickets:

Online Purchase

You can purchase tickets online through the PCSO Lotto website. Simply create an account, deposit funds, and buy your ticket numbers.
Online ticket sales open at 8AM and close at 8:30PM on draw days.
You must be located in the Philippines to purchase tickets online.

In-Person Purchase

Tickets can be purchased in-person at any authorized PCSO outlet, including Lotto outlets, terminals, booths, and kiosks.
Outlets sell tickets from 6AM to 8:30PM on draw days.
You must be 18 or older to purchase lottery tickets in person.
Pay in cash and receive a printed ticket with your number selections.

Key Dates

Draws are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Cut-off for buying tickets is 8:30PM on draw days.
Results are announced at 9PM on draw days.

So in summary, you have the option to conveniently purchase tickets online until 8:30PM on draw days, or visit an authorized outlet in person. Be sure to buy tickets before the 8:30PM cut-off to participate.

Claiming Prizes

To claim Super Lotto 6/49 prizes in the Philippines, you must meet certain requirements and claim your prize at an authorized PCSO claim center.

Requirements to Claim

You must be 18 years or older. Minors can claim prizes but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian with valid ID.
Bring the winning ticket and present it to the teller. Make sure the ticket is signed and not damaged.
Provide valid government-issued ID with photo and signature (Passport, Driver’s License, SSS/GSIS ID, etc).
Fill out a claim form and affidavit of ownership.

Claim Centers

Prizes up to Php 10,000 can be claimed at any authorized lottery outlet nationwide.
Prizes above Php 10,000 must be claimed at PCSO head office or regional offices.
For the jackpot prize, claim at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City.

Taxes

Prizes above Php 10,000 are subject to a 20% tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
Jackpot winners pay a 30% tax on the amount exceeding Php 10 million.
PCSO will automatically deduct the tax before releasing your prize.

Odds of Winning

The odds of winning any prize in Super Lotto 6/49 are 1 in 31. This means that on average, 1 out of every 31 tickets sold will win a prize. The odds are slightly better than some other major lotteries like Mega Millions (1 in 24) and Powerball (1 in 24.9) in the United States.

The chances of winning the jackpot prize are approximately 1 in 28,989,675. This means it is highly unlikely for any single ticket to match all 6 winning numbers. Since there can be multiple jackpot winners if there are ticket holders that match all numbers, your chance of being the sole winner and taking the entire jackpot prize is even smaller at 1 in 43,949,268.

While the chances of winning the jackpot are very small, it is still possible to win smaller prizes like matching 3, 4, or 5 numbers. The overall odds of 1 in 31 for winning any prize makes the lottery worth playing for many people. Even though the jackpot is elusive, smaller prizes are awarded frequently.

Tips and Strategies

The Super Lotto 6/49 game offers different ways to play and win. Here are some tips and strategies that may improve your chances:

Focus on commonly drawn numbers – Although every number has an equal chance of being picked in each draw, some numbers do tend to come up more often than others. Analyzing historical draws can reveal which numbers are hot or cold. Some players focus their bets on numbers that get drawn frequently.

Try different bet types – Super Lotto has different bet options with their own advantages. A 6-number standard play gives you the best shot at the jackpot but lower overall odds. A 3-number play costs less but also has lower odds. System bets and special draws like 4-digit and 6-digit also offer ways to win prizes. Mixing up bet types can increase your chances of winning something.

Join a pool or syndicate – Playing in a group pool allows you to buy more number combinations for a lower cost per share. This increases your odds significantly. Just be sure to find trustworthy partners.

Use balanced and random numbers – Some players avoid picking birthdays, addresses, or other patterns. Using a mix of high, low, odd and even numbers may offer better coverage. Quick picks let the system randomly select numbers for you.

Stick to a budget – Only spend what you can afford to lose. Set a budget per draw and don’t go over it. Remember that the odds are stacked against you, so pursue Super Lotto as entertainment and not a way to make money.

History and Changes

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) launched the 6/49 Super Lotto in 1983. At the time, it was the biggest lottery game in the Philippines, offering the largest jackpot prize of any game.

Over the years, there have been some notable changes to the 6/49 Super Lotto:

In 1995, the lottery matrix changed from 6/45 to 6/49, allowing for bigger jackpot prizes. The minimum jackpot also increased from 8 million to 16 million pesos.
In 2010, major reforms standardized lottery draws across the Philippines. Super Lotto 6/49 draws now take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
The introduction of pari-mutuel betting in 2013 changed how prizes are paid out. Now, 55% of sales are allocated to the jackpot prize pool. This enabled some record-breaking mega jackpots.
In 2015, PCSO increased the price of Super Lotto tickets from 20 pesos to 24 pesos per play. This allowed larger prizes to be offered.
The biggest Super Lotto jackpot, worth 741 million pesos, was won on October 30, 2020 by a lone bettor from Quezon City.

The 6/49 Super Lotto has evolved over nearly 40 years but remains the most popular nationwide lottery game run by PCSO. Its huge jackpots continue to capture the dreams of millions of Filipinos.

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