Man defeats machine.
A lotto store in Bangued, Abra was forced to close down after its printer stopped functioning. According to a report from GMA News’ Unang Balita, the printer broke down because there were too many customers who wanted to bet on the lottery, no doubt attracted by the PHP1 billion-worth (more than US$18.4 million) jackpot prize, the highest in history.
The storekeeper, whose name was withheld, told Unang Balita what happened.
“Because there were so many bettors, sir, our printer gave up, sir,” she told the reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.
The lottery draw will happen tonight at 9pm and will be broadcast on the government-owned television channel People’s Television Network.
Everyone has gone gaga over the lottery. Heck, even President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio placed their bets.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) runs several lotteries and the PHP1 billion prize is up for grabs at its Ultra Lotto 6/58 game. Joining is fairly simple: a bettor has to choose a combination composed of 6 numbers from 1 – 58.
Bettors can choose their numbers or use the Lucky Pick method, wherein the lottery machine randomly chooses the numbers. The 6/58 is drawn every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Winning is a different story altogether. The joke among Filipinos is that it’s easier to get hit by lightning than to win the lottery. There might be a grain of truth to that — no one has won the Ultra Lotto prize since February this year, which is why it has ballooned to historic proportions.
The PCSO always reminds bettors to take care of their tickets properly. Tickets shouldn’t be crumpled or exposed to heat, nor should they be drenched in liquids.
Bettors who win the grand prize are required to bring two valid government-issued IDs and claim their money at the PCSO’s office in Mandaluyong City.
Unlike in previous years, the lotto is now taxed. Prizes higher than PHP10,000 (US$184) are subject to a 20 percent tax.
Reader Interactions