PHILIPPINES - In this Southeast Asian nation where 32.9% of the population live below the poverty line* and where the average daily income is under US$10, it is no wonder that many Filipinos are drawn to games of chance such as the lotto hoping for a reprieve in life.
And many Filipinos are again hoping high given that this country's lotto jackpot is expected to top at around P375 million (US$ 8.7 million), the biggest jackpot amount ever recorded in this country's lotto history.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the agency running the country's monopoly on lotto games is expecting more lines at its betting terminals today as the jackpot for its 6/55 Grand Lotto game has reached an all-time high.
The lotto game, drawn thrice a week, topped the P300 million jackpot mark last week when no winner was declared. Last Monday, a drawn combination of 12-14-30-43-46-51 with a guaranteed pot of P355 million also went unwon.
The ever-enlarging jackpot has drawn such a frenzy in the country that long queues at lotto terminals have become norm in the past two weeks. People from all walks of life -- rich or poor -- come to the terminals with high hopes placed on the 6 number combinations they have marked on their lotto cards.
The 6/55 Grand Lotto is PCSO's latest game, replacing the less popular Power Lotto. Similar to the 6/45 and 6/49 lotto games, bettors simply need to choose 6 digits from a combination of 55 numbers with a minimum P20 bet. With the current seemingly unwinnability of the jackpot, PCSO officials think that it can be more popular than the 6/45 Super Lotto.
According to PCSO Online Lottery Sector Assistant General Manager Liza Gabuyo:
"Since the 6/55 has surpassed the jackpot of 6/49, the Grand Lotto is more popular now."
Even senators are reportedly placing bets on the Grand Lotto.
According to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, at least 6 Philippine senators have confimed they will be joining millions of other Filipinos in hoping to grab the richest prize in lotto history.
The expected pot of P375 million is almost double a senator's annual pork barrel funds of P200 million.
Previously, the biggest jackpot in PCSO's lotto games was P349 million for its 6/49 Super Lotto which was won by two winners in February 2009.
PCSO lotto terminals will be accepting bets until 8:30pm (local time). The live draws are held nightly at 9:00pm.
