Lotto sales surge over 38% following higher jackpot prizes

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) recorded a 38.3 percent year-on-year increase in lotto sales following the implementation of higher minimum jackpot prizes.

From 1 to 7 February 2026, total lotto sales reached P413,827,025.00, up from P299,172,920 during the same period in 2025. The increase followed the rollout of higher starting jackpots across major lotto games, making larger prizes available from the first draw and boosting overall player engagement.

PCSO said the growth in sales was accompanied by higher player participation, with the number of lotto tickets sold rising by 10.7 percent year-on-year during the same period.

The agency attributed the sustained growth to the improved value proposition of lotto games, where players now compete for significantly higher prizes from the outset while continuing to benefit from the progressive jackpot system when prizes are not immediately won.

“The strong year-on-year growth in lotto sales shows that higher minimum jackpots resonate with the public,” PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles.

“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 added.

Robles said that increased participation directly supports PCSO’s mandate to fund health, medical, and social welfare programs nationwide.

“Higher participation means more resources for medical assistance and other social services that benefit Filipinos in need,” he said.

The enhanced jackpot structure, implemented starting 1 February, forms part of PCSO’s continuing efforts to modernize the Lotto system and align it with internationally accepted gaming practices.