Government officials within the Philippines are calling for an investigation into the Grand Lotto result, which saw tons of of individuals win a jackpot price 236 million pesos, or about $4 million.
Grand Lotto participants select six numbers from 1 to 55, and all six numbers must match those drawn by the lottery operator.
The lottery organizers, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, announced that 433 people won within the lottery held on October 1. Each winner is anticipated to win almost $10,000.
All winning numbers were multiples of nine: nine, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54.
“For many years I have always bet on the 9, 8, 7 and 6 pattern and I am grateful that I won this time,” said one anonymous winner interviewed by the lottery agency.
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But Terence Tao, a mathematics professor on the University of California, Los Angeles, said such a pattern of winning numbers is rare “for any single lottery.”
The result also drew skepticism from government officials. Aquilino Pimentel III, minority leader of the Philippine Senate, asked for an investigation into the drawing and described the event as “strange and strange.”
“These lotto games are authorized by the Republic of the Philippines. Therefore, we must maintain and protect the integrity of these gambling activities.”
Lottery authorities were quick to defend the outcomes. Melquiades Robles, general manager of the lottery office, told Bloomberg there have been no irregularities in the outcomes. People are inclined to follow the numbers they select and bet on the identical mixtures over and yet again, he added.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office declined a request for comment.
The news also caused a stir on social media. One person commented on the chances on Twitter. “1 player has a 1 in 40 million chance of winning. 433 players just exceeded those odds,” one wrote on Twitter.
Others expressed their opinion with disbelief. Phil Biz News columnist tweeted on the matter: “What a joke – just like organization-directed jokes,” wrote one other.
“Was it an accident or a deliberate act?” – questioned one person in a series of tweets on October 4.
