PCSO clarifies lone bettor who won 20 times in just a month collected winnings for minor games

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) made clarifications on Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s pronouncement about a lone bettor winning 20 times in just a month.

According to the PCSO, the reported prize claims made by an individual are from its digit games, which only have minor prizes—and don’t automatically mean that the person is the one that won all of them.

"For Digit Games such as 2D, 3D, 4D, and 6D, PCSO lotto outlet agents or representatives of the winners can collect the winnings on their behalf,” the agency said. “Since they are just minor prizes, a winner can ask someone he trusts to claim the prize for him/her through the so-called 'paki-claim.’”

The agency said some winners observe the "paki-claim" scheme due to the added burden of personally claiming the prize.

The list pointed out by Tulfo, it added, also showed that no bettor has won more than once in the major lottery draws like Lotto 6/42, Mega Lotto 6/45, Super Lotto 6/49, Grand Lotto 6/55, and Ultra 6/58.

Tulfo, in a radio interview on Dobol B TV, earlier said the PCSO gave him a list showing individuals winning multiple times in a month.

“Ito nga po 'yung sinasabi ko, medyo nakakataas ng kilay,” he said. “Siguro baka magkapangalan pero still, pare-pareho 'yung premyo ang pinanalunan. Paulit-ulit in one month.”

Tulfo said he would conduct an investigation on the matter.

Following the senator’s statement, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles said they will also look into it.

This issue comes less than two months after PCSO became a trending topic online after it posted an edited photo of a lone bettor who won the P43.9 million jackpot.