P236 million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot to be split by 433 winning bettors
What are the odds that a lotto combination that contains six multiples of 9, which can be shaded diagonally on the Grand Lotto 6/55 ballot, would win the jackpot for 433 bettors on the first of October? Statisticians and non-statisticians on Twitter weighed in.
Some netizens expressed doubts about the fairness and honesty of the draw results. A few are calling for a formal investigation into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the government agency that administers the lottery.
The rare occurrence raised so much speculation that the PCSO was compelled to hold a press conference to assure the betting public that was no cheating or manipulation involved.
At the press conference, PSCO General Manager Mel Robles explained that the mass winnings is due to the popularity of no. 9 and the consistent placing of bets on the combination of multiples of 9. “We have found nothing wrong, it’s a natural occurrence na may nagaaalaga (ng mga numero) at maraming nanalo,” he said.
