How much does each lottery game cost?

SA Lotto: R5 per board. Lotto Plus 1 or 2: R2.50 each. PowerBall: R5 per board. PowerBall Plus: R2.50 extra. PowerBall Xtra: R3 extra. Daily Lotto: R4 per board. Lotto 5 Max: R5 per board.

What percentage of sales goes to prizes?

The National Lottery allocates approximately 55% of sales revenue to the prize pool. About 27% goes to National Lotteries Commission good causes, 9% to retailer commissions, and 9% to operator costs and profit.

Are lottery winnings taxed in South Africa?

No. National Lottery winnings are not subject to income tax in South Africa. However, any interest or investment income earned from your winnings is taxable.

How long do I have to claim a prize?

You have 365 days from the date of the draw to claim your prize. Prizes not claimed within this period are forfeited and redistributed to the NLTC good causes fund.

What happens if multiple people win the jackpot?

The jackpot is divided equally among all winners. For example, if R20 million is won by 4 people, each receives R5 million before any applicable deductions.

SA Lottery Prize Divisions

By LottoNow Editorial TeamUpdated 1 September 2026Fact-checked 1 September 20266 min read

How Prize Funds Work

The National Lottery uses a parimutuel system for most prize divisions. This means the prize pool is divided proportionally among winners in each division. The percentage allocated to each division is fixed, but the rand value depends on total ticket sales for that draw.

More ticket sales = bigger prize pool. More winners in a division = smaller individual share.

SA Lotto Prize Divisions

Division	Match	Typical Prize	Odds
Match 6	Match 6	Jackpot (min R2M)	1 in 20,358,520
Match 5 + Bonus	Match 5 + Bonus	~R50,000+	1 in 3,393,087
Match 5	Match 5	~R3,500+	1 in 55,624
Match 4 + Bonus	Match 4 + Bonus	~R1,500+	1 in 11,125
Match 4	Match 4	~R200+	1 in 618
Match 3 + Bonus	Match 3 + Bonus	~R80+	1 in 310
Match 3	Match 3	~R30	1 in 29
Match 2 + Bonus	Match 2 + Bonus	~R30	1 in 29
Match 2	Match 2	Free ticket	1 in 9

Prize values are approximate and vary per draw. Check the latest SA Lotto results for current prize breakdowns.

PowerBall Prize Divisions

Division	Match	Typical Prize	Odds
Match 5 + PB	Match 5 + PB	Jackpot (min R10M)	1 in 42,375,200
Match 5	Match 5	~R100,000+	1 in 2,231,327
Match 4 + PB	Match 4 + PB	~R5,000+	1 in 56,993
Match 4	Match 4	~R500+	1 in 3,000
Match 3 + PB	Match 3 + PB	~R100+	1 in 1,134
Match 3	Match 3	~R40	1 in 84
Match 2 + PB	Match 2 + PB	~R20	1 in 73
Match 1 + PB	Match 1 + PB	~R10	1 in 14
PB only	PB only	~R7	1 in 11

PowerBall Plus mirrors the same divisions but with its own separate prize pool. View latest PowerBall results.

Daily Lotto Prize Divisions

Division	Match	Typical Prize	Odds
Match 5	Match 5	Jackpot (must be won)	1 in 376,992
Match 4	Match 4	~R1,000+	1 in 1,538
Match 3	Match 3	~R40	1 in 44
Match 2	Match 2	~R5	1 in 8

UK 49s Prize Structure

UK 49s uses a fixed-odds model, meaning your prize is determined by the bookmaker based on your stake and the odds offered — not by a shared prize pool. Prizes vary between bookmakers. Use the ticket checker to see what your numbers could win.

Understanding the Prize Pool

The National Lottery allocates approximately 55% of total sales to prizes. Of that:

~40% funds jackpot and higher-tier prizes
~15% funds lower-tier and free ticket prizes
The remaining ~45% goes to NLTC good causes, retailer commissions, and operator costs

What Happens to Unclaimed Prizes

Prizes not claimed within 365 days are transferred to the National Lotteries Commission Trust Fund. These funds are allocated to good causes — community development, arts, culture, and sports projects across South Africa.