P251-million lotto pot up for grabs

MANILA, Philippines - Lottery fever is sweeping the country as thousands of lotto fanatics line up in a bid to win the P251-million grand lotto jackpot, the second biggest lotto jackpot since the online lottery of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was launched in 1995.

According to the official PCSO website (www.pcso.gov.ph), as of yesterday the jackpot prize of the Grand 6/55 lotto had ballooned to P251,648,827.20 after nobody won the winning combination in last Wednesday’s draw.

A player from Malabon City bought his favorite number combination yesterday morning, hoping that he will soon join the so-called “lotto millionaires club” after tonight’s draw.

“I chose the six-number combination from my birthday and significant dates in my life,” said fish vendor Cris Calapoy, as he bought three sets of numbers from 1 to 55.

A similar scenario prevailed in the northern Manila area.

According to computer experts, the odds of winning the Grand Lotto are one in over 15 million.

A 62-year-old construction worker beat the 13,983,816 odds when he hit the P249-million jackpot of the 6/49 draw in August 2008.

Aside from the 6/55 Grand Lotto game, the Super Lotto jackpot has also breached the P100-million mark as the jackpot rose to P135 million yesterday and is expected to increase during tomorrow’s draw.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Filipinos are saving their last peso to join the game.

The state-run lotto has become popular in the country after the PCSO began its online lottery game in 1995. This includes the games Lotto 6/42, Mega lotto 6/45, Super lotto 6/49, Six Digit, Four Digits and Three Digits and the EZ2 games.

More than 1,600 lucky winners have won prizes ranging from P3 million to P249 million.

The biggest lotto jackpot of more than P350 million, also in 2008, was shared by two winners from Caloocan and Pasig City.