PCSO has raised very big amount of money in recent years. As the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance, and services, PCSO plays a crucial role in the country's public health sector.
PCSO Sales and Charity Contributions: Recent Data
- 2015: Draw-based game sales hit ₱37.4 billion (about $822 million), with roughly 40%-₱15.4 billion-going back to the public through charity and good causes.
- 2017: Sales soared to ₱53 billion ($1.05 billion), with ₱18 billion donated to charity, including education (₱318 million), culture (₱13 million), social activities (₱12.1 billion), sport (₱1 million), and other causes (₱244 million).
- 2020: The pandemic slashed earnings to ₱18.6 billion, less than half of 2019’s ₱44 billion, sharply reducing funds for charity.
Latest Figures: 2023
PCSO rebounded strongly in 2023, recording ₱61.45 billion in gaming revenues-a 7% increase from 2022 and nearly 40% above pre-pandemic levels. Lotto games led with ₱31.37 billion, followed by Small Town Lottery at ₱29.73 billion. This performance allowed PCSO to allocate ₱18.4 billion to the Charity Fund for 2024.
Recent Charity Initiatives
In early 2025, PCSO distributed thousands of wheelchairs, medical devices, and emergency kits nationwide, supporting persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and disaster-affected communities.
Lottery history - very short story
We, the active lottery players, can help other people indirectly. However, have you ever wondered how much money exactly goes to charity from the PCSO earnings? It's exciting that the lottery organizer in the Philippines gives money to different causes instead of just one. In contrast, in European countries, cash from the lotto or sports stakes often goes only for sports or health care.
Initial lotteries hundreds of years ago were only used to raise funds for building new streets or for more sophisticated needs. Moreover, only well-known people were allowed to take part in some of these lotteries. There was no opportunity for poor people to participate. The cost of the ticket was extremely high, making it only accessible to wealthy individuals who wanted to show their support for the king or to display their wealth. In some cases, people even used the lottery as a way to promote their own businesses. The potential winnings were not significant and not very high at all. Read more about gambling and lottery history in the Philippines.