How Daily Lotto Works: South Africa's Nightly Draw
Daily Lotto is South Africa's only nightly lottery. With the shortest jackpot odds of any SA game, it's also the most accessible. Here's everything you need to know.
The format
- 5 numbers from 1–36 (no bonus ball)
- Drawn every day at 21:00 SAST
- R3 per board
- Quick Pick available
- 4 prize divisions, all pari-mutuel
Why the odds are so good
With only 36 numbers and 5 picks, there are 376,992 possible combinations. That's just 1 in 377,000 for the jackpot — about 54 times better than SA Lotto. The trade-off: jackpots are smaller because the game is daily and draws more players.
Prize structure
- Division 1: Match 5 (Jackpot, typically R300k–R800k)
- Division 2: Match 4 (typically R1k–R3k)
- Division 3: Match 3 (R50 fixed)
- Division 4: Match 2 (R20 fixed)
Strategy tip
Because all divisions are pari-mutuel, popular number patterns (birthdays, sequences) dilute prizes. Choosing numbers above 31 can statistically increase your share of any win — though it doesn't change your odds of winning.
More from the blog
- UK 49s Teatime vs Lunchtime: Which Draw Is Better for SA Players?
Teatime gets more bets, Lunchtime ends earlier — but which is right for you? We compare the two on schedule, payouts and player experience.
- A South African Player's Guide to Responsible UK 49s Betting
Five proven rules to keep UK 49s fun — plus the National Responsible Gambling Programme number every SA player should save.
- How UK 49s Numbers Are Actually Drawn (And Why It Matters)
Behind every UK 49s result is a regulated mechanical draw. Here's how it works and why integrity audits keep the game fair.
