Manila: The implementation of higher minimum jackpot prizes resulted in a 38-percent surge in lotto sales, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, a PCSO news release posted on Facebook indicated that total lotto sales from February 1 to 7 reached PHP413,827,025, marking a significant increase from PHP299,172,920 during the same period in 2025. PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles emphasized that the robust year-on-year growth in Lotto sales reflects the public's positive response to higher minimum jackpots. "By offering bigger prizes right from the start, we are making Lotto games more exciting and rewarding while ensuring the system remains fair, transparent, and sustainable," Robles stated.
Jackpot prizes across all major lotto games experienced an increase starting February 1. Under the updated prize structure, the minimum jackpot prize for Lotto 6/42 is set at PHP10 million; Mega Lotto 6/45, PHP15 million; Super Lotto 6/49, PHP25 million; Grand Lotto 6/55, PHP45 million; and Ultra Lotto 6/58, PHP75 million. The PCSO reported that the growth in sales was accompanied by a 10.7 percent year-on-year rise in the number of tickets sold during the same period.
The PCSO attributed this sustained growth to the enhanced value proposition of Lotto games, where players now compete for significantly higher prizes from the outset while still benefiting from the progressive jackpot system when prizes are not immediately won. "Higher sales also mean a high degree of confidence by the betting public in the Philippine lottery system," Robles noted.
Robles highlighted that increased participation directly supports PCSO's mandate to fund health, medical, and social welfare programs nationwide. The PCSO continues to encourage the public to play responsibly and rely on official channels for accurate information on Lotto games, draw schedules, and prize announcements. He also urged the betting public to avoid illegal gambling to prevent fraud and help sustain government medical assistance and social welfare programs.
