South African Lottery Guide 2026
Complete guide to every SA lottery game — results, draw schedules, odds, prize tiers, and expert tips for playing smarter.
The South African National Lottery, operated by Ithuba Holdings since 2015, is one of Africa's largest lottery operations. With over R20 billion distributed in prizes since inception and a portion of every ticket sale funding the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), playing the lottery contributes to education, health, and community development across South Africa. From the daily R3 Daily Lotto to massive PowerBall draws with jackpots exceeding R200 million, there's a game for every budget and ambition. This guide covers every lottery game, explains the odds in plain language, and shares tips for playing smarter.
R232M
Biggest SA Jackpot Ever
Daily
Daily Lotto Draws
R3
Cheapest Ticket Price
0% Tax
On All Lottery Winnings
🎱 Main Lottery Games
SA Lotto
The flagship SA lottery. Pick 6 numbers from 1-52 plus a bonus ball. Jackpots start at R3 million and can roll over to R100M+.
Draw: Wed & Sat 20:56
Lotto Plus 1
An add-on to the main Lotto draw. Same format — 6 numbers from 1-52. Jackpots start at R2 million.
Draw: Wed & Sat
Lotto Plus 2
Second add-on draw. Same number format. Fixed R1 million jackpot that doesn't roll over.
Draw: Wed & Sat
Daily Lotto
South Africa's most affordable lottery. Pick 5 numbers from 1-36. Draws happen every single day — no days off.
Draw: Daily at 21:00
PowerBall
SA's biggest jackpot game. Pick 5 numbers (1-50) plus 1 PowerBall (1-20). Record jackpot was R232 million.
Draw: Tue & Fri 21:00
PowerBall Plus
Add-on to PowerBall. Same format with its own separate jackpot starting at R2 million.
Draw: Tue & Fri
Odds Comparison — Which Game Gives You the Best Chance?
| Game | Jackpot Odds | Any Prize Odds | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Lotto | 1 in 376,992 | 1 in 7.6 | R3 | Best odds, daily play |
| SA Lotto | 1 in 20.3M | 1 in 72 | R5 | Big jackpots, twice weekly |
| PowerBall | 1 in 42.4M | 1 in 35 | R5 | Biggest jackpots in SA |
| Sportstake 13 | 1 in 1.6M | 1 in 5 | R5 | Football fans |
The Daily Lotto offers by far the best jackpot odds in the SA lottery family. If you're looking for the most realistic shot at winning, Daily Lotto is your game.
⚽ Sportstake Games
Sportstake games combine the excitement of football with the lottery format. Predict match outcomes (Home Win, Draw, Away Win) for a chance to win big prizes. Knowledge of football can give you an edge over pure lottery games.
Sportstake 4
Predict outcomes of 4 fixtures. Simplest Sportstake game.
Sportstake 8
Predict outcomes of 8 fixtures for bigger prizes.
Sportstake 13
Predict 13 fixture outcomes. Hardest but biggest prizes.
Sportstake Cricket
Cricket-themed Sportstake variant during cricket season.
How to Play the SA Lottery
Playing the South African lottery is straightforward. Purchase tickets at any authorised retailer, through the official National Lottery website, or via the mobile app.
- Choose your game — SA Lotto, PowerBall, Daily Lotto, or Sportstake.
- Select your numbers — manually pick them or use Quick Pick for random selection.
- Add extras — opt in for Lotto Plus 1 & 2 or PowerBall Plus for additional chances.
- Pay for your ticket — R3 (Daily Lotto) to R5 (SA Lotto/PowerBall) per board.
- Watch the draw — results broadcast on SABC2 and available online immediately.
- Check your numbers — use our results pages or the official website.
Where to Buy Lottery Tickets in SA
🏪 Retail
Over 10,000 authorised retailers across SA — Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Spar, Engen, Shell, and dedicated lottery terminals.
💻 Online
Register at nationallottery.co.za, verify your identity (FICA), load funds, and play digitally. Winnings credited automatically.
📱 Mobile App
Download the SA National Lottery app (Android/iOS). Same features as the website with push notifications for draw results.
How to Claim Your Prize
💰
Under R2,000
Claim at any retailer — instant payment
🏦
R2,000 - R49,999
Claim at a post office or lottery office
🏛️
R50,000+
Claim at Ithuba offices with SA ID
Important: You have 365 days from the draw date to claim your prize. After this, unclaimed prizes are forfeited. Always sign the back of your physical ticket and keep it safe. For online purchases, winnings are credited automatically.
Smart Lottery Tips
Avoid popular numbers
Birthdays (1-31) and patterns (1,2,3,4,5) are played by many people. If you win with these, you share the jackpot with more winners.
Use Quick Pick
Random selections are just as likely to win and tend to be less 'clustered' than human picks, meaning fewer shared jackpots.
Play consistently
One ticket per draw over a year gives you better odds than 52 tickets in one draw. Spread your play across time.
Add Lotto Plus
For R2.50 extra, you get additional shots at R1M+ prizes with the same numbers. It's the best value add-on in SA lottery.
Set a budget
Decide your weekly/monthly lottery budget and stick to it. The lottery is entertainment, not an investment.
Join a syndicate
Pool money with friends or colleagues to buy more tickets. More entries = better odds. Just agree on splitting rules upfront.