South African Lottery Games — Complete Guide
Every game explained: SA Lotto, PowerBall, Daily Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 & 2, Lotto 5 Max, PowerBall Plus, PowerBall XTRA, and UK 49s. Draw times, odds, prizes, and how to play.
Official Ithuba Games (National Lottery)
The South African National Lottery is operated by Ithuba Holdings under licence from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). A portion of every ticket sold funds Good Causes across sports, arts, charities, and community development.
SA Lotto — The Flagship Draw
→ View SA Lotto Results- Format: 6 numbers from 1–52 + 1 Bonus ball
- Draws: Wednesday & Saturday, 21:00 SAST (SABC2 live)
- Cost: R5.00 per board
- Jackpot: Starts at R3 million, rolls over frequently to R20M+
- Odds: ~1 in 20.3 million (jackpot)
- Add-ons: Lotto Plus 1 (+R2.50, R1M min jackpot), Lotto Plus 2 (+R2.50, R600k min)
PowerBall — Biggest Jackpots
→ View PowerBall Results- Format: 5 numbers from 1–50 + 1 PowerBall from 1–20
- Draws: Tuesday & Friday, 21:00 SAST
- Cost: R5.00 + R2.50 ticket fee per board
- Jackpot: Starts at R3M, regularly exceeds R30M, record >R200M
- Odds: ~1 in 42 million (jackpot)
- Add-ons: PowerBall Plus (+R2.50, R10M min), PowerBall XTRA (multiplied secondary prizes)
Daily Lotto — Best Jackpot Odds
→ View Daily Lotto Results- Format: 5 numbers from 1–36 (no bonus ball)
- Draws: Every day, 21:00 SAST
- Cost: R3.00 per board
- Jackpot: Pari-mutuel, typically R300k–R800k
- Odds: ~1 in 377,000 (best in SA)
- Add-on: Daily Lotto Plus (separate jackpot pool)
Lotto 5 Max — Faster Rollovers
→ View Lotto 5 Max Results- Format: 5 numbers from 1–52 + 1 Bonus ball
- Draws: Wednesday & Saturday, alongside SA Lotto
- Cost: Add-on to SA Lotto board
- Odds: Shorter than main Lotto (fewer numbers to match)
UK 49s — Fixed-Odds Betting Game
UK 49s is not the South African National Lottery. It is a UK-based draw where you bet on the outcome through licensed South African bookmakers (YesPlay, Hollywoodbets, Betway, etc.). The draw happens in the UK; you place a fixed-odds bet on the numbers.
→ View UK 49s Teatime Results- Format: 6 numbers from 1–49 + 1 Booster ball (optional)
- Draws: Daily — Brunchtime (~12:50 SAST), Lunchtime (~13:50 SAST), Drivetime (~17:50 SAST), Teatime (~18:50 SAST)
- Betting: Choose 1–5 numbers; payout depends on how many you match and your stake
- Key difference: Fixed odds (you know payout before betting) vs parimutuel (jackpot shared)
- Legal: Fully legal in SA via licensed operators (18+)
Comparison Table
| Game | Format | Draw Days | Draw Time (SAST) | Cost | Jackpot Odds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SA Lotto | 6/52 + Bonus | Wed, Sat | 21:00 | R5.00 | 1 in 20.3M | Parimutuel |
| PowerBall | 5/50 + PB 1/20 | Tue, Fri | 21:00 | R7.50 | 1 in 42M | Parimutuel |
| Daily Lotto | 5/36 | Daily | 21:00 | R3.00 | 1 in 377k | Parimutuel |
| Lotto 5 Max | 5/52 + Bonus | Wed, Sat | 21:00 | Add-on | Better than Lotto | Parimutuel |
| UK 49s Teatime | 6/49 + Booster | Daily | ~18:50 | Variable | Varies by bet | Fixed Odds |
How to Buy Tickets
Official Ithuba Channels
- Website: nationallottery.co.za
- Mobile App: Ithuba National Lottery (iOS/Android)
- Bank Apps: FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, Capitec
- Retailers: 8,000+ licensed outlets nationwide
UK 49s Betting Operators
- Licensed SA bookmakers: YesPlay, Hollywoodbets, Betway, 10bet, Supabets
- You are betting on the outcome — not buying a UK lottery ticket
- Payouts are fixed odds set by the operator
Responsible Play
Lottery games are entertainment — not a way to make money. Set a budget, stick to it, and never chase losses. If gambling becomes a problem, call theNational Responsible Gambling Programme: 0800 006 008 (free, 24/7).