Bettor who won 20 times only played digit games

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) clarified on Wednesday that a bettor, who Senator Raffy Tulfo claimed to have won lottery games 20 times, only played “digit games,” not the jackpot draws.

In a statement on Wednesday, the PCSO confirmed that a list Tulfo referred to in a radio interview on Tuesday originated from them, but it should “not be interpreted in a manner other than what it was meant to be.”

“We would like to underscore that those are not Jackpot Lottery Games, but only for our digit games,” it said.

“What Senator Tulfo apparently failed to notice was that the same list would also show that for jackpot-bearing games like Lotto 6/42, Mega Lotto 6/45, Super Lotto 6/49, Grand Lotto 6/55 and Ultra Lotto 6/58, there was no winner more than once,” it added. “The real issue, therefore, is the claimant, and not the number of times that he supposedly won as what Senator Tulfo seemed to have assumed.”

Also, the PCSO clarified that the reported 20 claims made by one person do not make him the winner of 20-digit lottery games.

According to its rules, those who won the digit games (EZ2, SwerTres, 4D Lotto, 6D Lotto) can ask PCSO lotto outlet agents or representatives to collect their winnings. Jackpot winners are required to personally appear at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City.

“Since they are just minor prizes, a winner can ask someone he trusts to claim the prize for him through the so-called paki-claim. Some of the reasons for the paki-claim scheme was due to distance and lack of valid identification cards of winners, winners of P10,000 and up must be claimed at the branch offices where they will be required to present a valid ID,” it said.

The PCSO said the safety of the winners, as well as their security and well-being, are “paramount.”

“Rest assured that we remain dedicated and committed to fostering a gaming environment that upholds fairness and ensures the integrity of every single draw,” the statement added.