South African Lottery Games — Complete Guide
Every game explained: SA Lotto, PowerBall, Daily Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, Lotto 5 Max, PowerBall XTRA, and UK 49s. Draw times, odds, prizes, and how to play.
Official National Lottery Games (Sizekhaya)
The South African National Lottery is operated by Sizekhaya under licence from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), having taken over from Ithuba Holdings on 1 June 2026. 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 (range was 1–58 before June 2026)
- Draws: Wednesday & Saturday, 21:00 SAST (SABC2 live)
- Cost: R5.00 per board
- Jackpot: Cascading (guaranteed a monthly winner), frequent high rollovers
- Odds: ~1 in 20.4 million (jackpot)
- Add-ons: Lotto Plus 1 (+R2.50) and Lotto 5 Max (+R2.50, replaced Lotto Plus 2)
PowerBall — Biggest Jackpots
→ View PowerBall Results- Format: 5 numbers from 1–50 + 1 PowerBall from 1–16 (pool was 1–20 before June 2026)
- Draws: Tuesday & Friday, 21:00 SAST
- Cost: R10.00 per board
- Jackpot: Starts at R50M, cascading — record >R200M
- Odds: ~1 in 33.9 million (jackpot)
- Add-on: PowerBall XTRA (+R5, second draw with its own jackpot; replaced PowerBall Plus)
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)
- No add-ons: Daily Lotto Plus was discontinued in June 2026
Lotto 5 Max — Second Shot at the Jackpot
→ View Lotto 5 Max Results- Format: 6 numbers from 1–52 + 1 Bonus ball — same as SA Lotto
- Draws: Wednesday & Saturday, alongside SA Lotto
- Cost: R2.50 add-on to a SA Lotto board
- Jackpot: Own separate prize pool with cascading jackpot (replaced Lotto Plus 2)
- Odds: ~1 in 20.4 million (jackpot) — same as main Lotto
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 (World Sports Betting, 10Bet, 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, Lunchtime, Drivetime and Teatime (UK-fixed times; see each results page for the exact SAST time)
- 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 20.4M | Parimutuel |
| PowerBall | 5/50 + PB 1/16 | Tue, Fri | 21:00 | R10.00 | 1 in 33.9M | Parimutuel |
| Daily Lotto | 5/36 | Daily | 21:00 | R3.00 | 1 in 377k | Parimutuel |
| Lotto 5 Max | 6/52 + Bonus | Wed, Sat | 21:00 | R2.50 | 1 in 20.4M | Parimutuel |
| PowerBall XTRA | 5/50 + PB 1/16 | Tue, Fri | 21:00 | R5.00 | 1 in 33.9M | Parimutuel |
| UK 49s Teatime | 6/49 + Booster | Daily | ~18:50 SAST winter | Variable | Varies by bet | Fixed Odds |
How to Buy Tickets
Official National Lottery Channels
- Website: nationallottery.co.za
- Mobile App: National Lottery app (iOS/Android)
- Bank Apps: FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, Capitec
- Retailers: Thousands of licensed outlets nationwide
UK 49s Betting Operators
- Licensed SA bookmakers: World Sports Betting, 10Bet
- 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).