How to play 4D
4D Lotto is a game of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), not PAGCOR. You pick a four-digit number, from 0000 to 9999, plus your play type and amount. Minimum is ₱10 per combination, including the 20% Documentary Stamp Tax (DST).
Lucky Pick (LP) is allowed, and you can repeat a bet for up to six consecutive draws. Buy only from authorized lotto outlets or PCSO's official online channel. Read the online lotto guide before trusting any "agent." The official site is pcso.gov.ph; some look-alike domains are not PCSO.
Play types: standard, perm, roll
These are the play types listed on PCSO's 4D page:
| Play type | What it covers | Combinations | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | One number, exact order | 1 | ₱10 |
| Perm, 4 different digits (1234) | All arrangements | 24 | ₱240 |
| Perm, 1 pair (1233) | All arrangements | 12 | ₱120 |
| Perm, 2 pairs (1122) | All arrangements | 6 | ₱60 |
| Perm, 3 same (1112) | All arrangements | 4 | ₱40 |
| Roll 1 | First digit 0 to 9, your last 3 | 10 | ₱100 |
| Roll 4 | Your first 3, last digit 0 to 9 | 10 | ₱100 |
A perm (or "rambol") is a straight play on every arrangement, so it's ₱10 per combination. More combinations mean a higher chance, but it also costs more in the same proportion.
Prizes and schedule
| Tier | How to win (exact order) | Prize per ₱10 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | All 4 digits | Minimum ₱10,000 (pari-mutuel) |
| 2nd | Last 3 digits | ₱800 |
| 3rd | Last 2 digits | ₱100 |
The 1st prize is pari-mutuel: the allocated prize money is divided equally among the winners. Draws are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 PM, broadcast on IBC13 and D8TV and livestreamed on PCSO's official channels. You must be 18 or older to buy or claim, according to PCSO. Compare it with the six-digit version in our 6D Lotto guide.
Exact odds, with working
Each of the 4 digits is 0 to 9, so there are 104 = 10,000 possible numbers. Number of winning tickets per tier, counting only the highest tier per ticket (our assumption; it's not yet verified whether one ticket can win two tiers):
- 1st: 1 ticket. Odds 1 in 10,000.
- 2nd: Last 3 right, first digit wrong = 9 tickets. Odds 10,000 ÷ 9 = 1 in 1,111.
- 3rd: Last 2 right, second digit wrong, first digit anything = 9 × 10 = 90 tickets. Odds 1 in 111.
- Any prize: 1 + 9 + 90 = 100 tickets, or 1 in 100.
For a perm with 24 arrangements, 24 out of 10,000 numbers hit the 1st prize, or 1 in 417. For Roll 1 or Roll 4, it's 10 out of 10,000, or 1 in 1,000. But you also paid 24 or 10 times the price, so there's no "free" extra chance. We double-checked all counts by computer across all 10,000 numbers. See how 4D compares with other games on our PCSO lotto odds page.
How much comes back on average?
Expected value, using PCSO's published minimum prizes for a ₱10 standard play:
(₱10,000 × 1 + ₱800 × 9 + ₱100 × 90) ÷ 10,000 = ₱26,200 ÷ 10,000 = ₱2.62 per ₱10.
That means, on average, about ₱7.38 of every ₱10 doesn't come back to players. The 1st prize can go up depending on the prize pool, and the split can change, so this is just an example of the average. The lesson: 4D is paid entertainment, not a way to make money.
Myths to forget
- "1234 came out last week, so it won't come out again." Each draw is independent. Same 1 in 10,000 every time.
- "Hot and cold numbers." Past results don't predict future draws. No number is "due."
- "Numbers from dreams or birthdays are luckier." You can play your favorite numbers, but every number has the same odds.
- "Someone is selling sure-win numbers." That's a scam. Report it and don't pay.
How to claim
Per PCSO's 4D page, prizes from ₱20 up to ₱10,000 can be claimed at any authorized lotto outlet, ₱20 up to ₱500,000 at PCSO branch offices, and ₱20 up to the jackpot at the PCSO Main Office, 2nd Floor. Prizes above ₱10,000 are subject to 20% tax under the TRAIN Law.
PNA, citing RA 1169, reports that winners have one year from the draw date to claim. Sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and read our how to claim guide for IDs and steps. For an overview of all games, go back to the PCSO lotto guide.
If it's not fun anymore
Open 24/7. Free and confidential. If you're betting to "win it back," or you're already using money meant for bills, call. Family members can call too.
FAQ
How much is a 4D Lotto ticket?
According to PCSO, the minimum is ₱10 per four-digit combination, including the 20% Documentary Stamp Tax. Perm and roll plays cost more because they cover many combinations.
When is the 4D Lotto draw?
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 PM, according to PCSO.
What are the odds of winning the 4D 1st prize?
1 in 10,000 per combination. There are 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000 possible four-digit numbers from 0000 to 9999.
Is a perm or rambol play better?
It covers more arrangements, so your chance is higher, but it also costs more in the same proportion. It doesn't change the average return per peso.
Where do you claim a 4D prize?
According to PCSO, ₱20 to ₱10,000 at an authorized lotto outlet, up to ₱500,000 at a PCSO branch, and any amount at the PCSO Main Office. Bring the ticket and valid IDs.
Sources
- PCSO, 4D Lotto game page (archived copy dated August 31, 2026; play types, perm/roll costs, prize tiers, draw schedule, age rule, where to claim)
- PCSO, Frequently Asked Questions (archived October 13, 2025; how to claim lotto prizes, 20% tax on prizes above ₱10,000 under TRAIN Law)
- Philippine News Agency, “QC, Pasig bettors claim lotto jackpots” (November 26, 2023; one year from the draw date to claim under RA 1169)
- Note: pcso.gov.ph blocked our direct requests while we were writing, so we read the archived copies linked here. Always confirm the latest rules on pcso.gov.ph.
Kassandra Marcos is SugarFun's lead reviewer. She checks every site against PAGCOR's official list and writes our game and responsible gaming guides. How we test