Sizekhaya Lottery: What Changed in 2026 and What It Means for Players
In June 2026, Sizekhaya Holdings took over as the operator of South Africa's National Lottery, replacing Ithuba. The transition affected game names, prize structures, and some draw formats. Here's what you need to know.
What changed
- Lotto Plus 2 was discontinued and replaced by Lotto 5 Max
- Daily Lotto Plus was discontinued
- PowerBall XTRA was introduced as a new add-on
- New branding and logo across all lottery materials
- Updated prize structures for some divisions
What stayed the same
- SA Lotto: same 6-from-52 format, same draw days (Wed/Sat)
- PowerBall: same 5+1 format, same draw days (Tue/Fri)
- Daily Lotto: same 5-from-36 format, daily draws
- Ticket prices: R5 for Lotto, R5 for PowerBall, R2.50 for Daily Lotto
- Draw time: 21:00 SAST for all draws
Lotto 5 Max explained
Lotto 5 Max replaced Lotto Plus 2. Despite the name suggesting 5 numbers, it actually uses the same 6-from-52 format as SA Lotto, with a separate prize pool. The key difference is that jackpots grow faster with fewer players.
What to expect going forward
Sizekhaya has indicated plans to introduce new games and improve the digital experience. For now, the core games South Africans know and play remain largely unchanged. Check LottoNow for the latest results as always.
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