E-Lotto: Everything you need to know about placing bets online
No need to line up to place your bets for the lottery as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has launched the E-Lotto online platform.
The pilot test run of the digital betting system was made official on Dec. 15 and is now available on PCSO's website. As of writing, the E-Lotto app is only available for Android with the iOS version in the works.
First running for a year before its official launch, the online platform aims to make betting “safe, modern, and accessible” to Filipinos in and out of the country without having to line up at lotto outlets.
PCSO made the lotto available online to curb the increasing number of illegal online games as this guarantees that revenues from placed bets will be remitted directly to the government. And because there were fewer lotto bettors amidst the pandemic, the government agency hopes to get more people to bet through the digital version.
How it works
To join, visit elotto.pcso.gov.ph and click the “Log in/Register” button. Bettors will need to provide their mobile number or email. A one-time password will be sent to the number and the user can nominate a PIN to use.
Users will also need to submit a photo of their government ID and later a selfie for verification to create the e-wallet to use for betting and receiving winnings.
For security and safety purposes, only one account can be created for every phone number. Its available payment methods for cash-in and lots are GCash, Grabpay, and Maya. You may also use a bank account for cash-outs, check out the accepted banks here.
Once successful, you can now place bets on your desired game. According to PCSO, there are no fixed minimum and maximum amounts you can cash in, but it will vary depending on each cash-in bank and cash-in method.
Who can play
Like the traditional lotto, anyone who is 18 years old and older can place their bets. They will also require bettors to use valid government-issued IDs and a sim card registered here in the Philippines. Even those who are based abroad like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can join the betting.
Robles said that foreigners are also eligible to join provided that they have a Philippine government ID like an alien certificate of registration.
“Pero critical is ‘yung Philippine-registered phone,” he said.
Robles also explained in his interview with One PH how this new way of betting can positively affect traditional lotto outlets, highlighting that the game is “jackpot-driven.”
According to Robles, PCSO currently holds a market share of only 2% of Filipinos or over 2 million individuals. The E-Lotto is expected to inflate both of its bettors as well as the jackpot prize.
“Lottery is jackpot-driven. Ibig sabihin, mas malaki ang jackpot, mas maraming manananaya,” which meansthat it will increase both of the revenues of online and traditional betting outlets.
The game officially started on Dec. 16, setting a whopping P500 million jackpot prize each for Grand Lotto 6/55 and Ultra Lotto 6/58 games. This is also in line with their program, “Handog Pakabog," lotto tickets will remain at P20 each.
The Grand Lotto is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday; while the Ultra Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
According to the PNA report, 22% of the sales will be added to the prize pot for every draw without a winner. They also ensure that the sales will also help the agency’s charity fund.
As of Dec. 20, the pot prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55 is at P525,920,131 million, while the pot for the Ultra Lotto 6/58 is at P513,100,080.
