South African Lottery Games Compared: Odds, Draws and Formats
Which game is which, and how do they really differ? This page puts every South African lottery game we track side by side: how many numbers are drawn, the odds of matching them, how often each game is drawn, and how often the top prize has actually been won.
The games at a glance
The table below uses the number format held in our game records and works out the odds of matching all of the main numbers with one ticket. Where a game also draws an extra ball, the main-number odds aren’t the full story, as the notes underneath explain.
| Game | Numbers drawn | From | Extra ball | Main-number odds | Chance of matching exactly 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Lotto | 5 | 1 to 36 | None | 1 in 376,992 | 1 in 81.1 |
| Lotto | 6 | 1 to 52 | Bonus ball | 1 in 20,358,520 | 1 in 67.1 |
| PowerBall | 5 | 1 to 50 | PowerBall number | 1 in 2,118,760 | 1 in 214 |
| Lotto Plus 1 | 6 | 1 to 52 | Bonus ball | 1 in 20,358,520 | 1 in 67.1 |
| Lotto 5 Max | 6 | 1 to 52 | Bonus ball | 1 in 20,358,520 | 1 in 67.1 |
| PowerBall Xtra | 5 | 1 to 50 | PowerBall number | 1 in 2,118,760 | 1 in 214 |
| UK49s Lunchtime | 6 | 1 to 49 | Bonus ball | 1 in 13,983,816 | 1 in 56.7 |
| UK49s Teatime | 6 | 1 to 49 | Bonus ball | 1 in 13,983,816 | 1 in 56.7 |
“Main-number odds” is the chance that one ticket matches every main number. For a game with an extra number that must also match for the top prize (such as PowerBall), the full jackpot odds are longer. For a bonus ball, which only counts in some divisions, the jackpot needs the main numbers alone. Which matches pay a prize is set by the official rules.
Of these games, Daily Lotto has the shortest main-number odds at 1 in 376,992, and Lotto the longest at 1 in 20,358,520. That makes the longest game about 54 times harder to match completely than the shortest.
How often is each game drawn?
Draw days and times are set by the operator and can change, so check the official schedule. Our archive shows how often each game has actually been drawn:
| Game | Draws in our archive | Average gap between draws | Weekdays recently recorded (number of draws in brackets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Lotto | 558 | 1.0 days | Friday (9), Wednesday (9), Tuesday (9), Monday (9), Saturday (8), Thursday (8), Sunday (8) |
| Lotto | 166 | 3.5 days | Saturday (31), Wednesday (29) |
| PowerBall | 168 | 3.5 days | Friday (31), Tuesday (29) |
| Lotto Plus 1 | 173 | 3.6 days | Saturday (30), Wednesday (30) |
| Lotto 5 Max | 173 | 3.6 days | Saturday (30), Wednesday (30) |
| PowerBall Xtra | 167 | 3.5 days | Friday (31), Tuesday (29) |
| UK49s Lunchtime | 180 | 1.0 days | Saturday (9), Friday (9), Wednesday (9), Monday (9), Thursday (8), Tuesday (8), Sunday (8) |
| UK49s Teatime | 180 | 1.0 days | Saturday (9), Wednesday (9), Tuesday (9), Monday (9), Friday (8), Thursday (8), Sunday (8) |
Weekday counts are for up to the latest 60 draws in each game’s archive. This is historical information, not a replacement for the official schedule.
With an average gap of about 1.0 days, Daily Lotto is the game drawn most often in our archive, while Lotto Plus 1 is drawn least often, at about 3.6 days between draws. More frequent draws mean more chances to spend, so it’s worth deciding your total budget before you choose.
How often has the top prize been won?
Our records include how many players won the top division in each draw, so we can see how often it has actually been won. Games with longer odds tend to roll over more often, which is how jackpots grow:
| Game | Draws with a top-division winner | Largest “next jackpot” recorded | Prize divisions in our records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Lotto | 481 of 558 (86%) | R550 000 | 4 |
| Lotto | 14 of 166 (8%) | R20 000 000 | 8 |
| PowerBall | 10 of 168 (6%) | R106 000 000 | 9 |
| Lotto Plus 1 | 17 of 173 (10%) | R5 500 000 | 8 |
| Lotto 5 Max | 14 of 173 (8%) | R6 000 000 | 8 |
| PowerBall Xtra | 13 of 167 (8%) | R22 000 000 | 9 |
These figures describe the draws in our archive only. A rollover grows the prize but doesn’t change anyone’s chance of winning it.
Game by game
Daily Lotto
Draws 5 numbers from 1 to 36. The chance of matching all 5 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 376,992. In our archive it has been drawn about every 1.0 days. Daily Lotto results and draw history · Daily Lotto statistics
Lotto
Draws 6 numbers from 1 to 52, plus a bonus ball. The chance of matching all 6 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 20,358,520. In our archive it has been drawn about every 3.5 days. Lotto results and draw history · Lotto statistics
PowerBall
Draws 5 numbers from 1 to 50, plus a powerball number. The chance of matching all 5 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 2,118,760. In our archive it has been drawn about every 3.5 days. PowerBall results and draw history · PowerBall statistics
Lotto Plus 1
Draws 6 numbers from 1 to 52, plus a bonus ball. The chance of matching all 6 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 20,358,520. In our archive it has been drawn about every 3.6 days. Lotto Plus 1 results and draw history · Lotto Plus 1 statistics
Lotto 5 Max
Draws 6 numbers from 1 to 52, plus a bonus ball. The chance of matching all 6 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 20,358,520. In our archive it has been drawn about every 3.6 days. Lotto 5 Max results and draw history · Lotto 5 Max statistics
PowerBall Xtra
Draws 5 numbers from 1 to 50, plus a powerball number. The chance of matching all 5 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 2,118,760. In our archive it has been drawn about every 3.5 days. PowerBall Xtra results and draw history · PowerBall Xtra statistics
UK49s Lunchtime
Draws 6 numbers from 1 to 49, plus a bonus ball. The chance of matching all 6 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 13,983,816. In our archive it has been drawn about every 1.0 days. UK49s Lunchtime results and draw history · UK49s Lunchtime statistics
UK49s Teatime
Draws 6 numbers from 1 to 49, plus a bonus ball. The chance of matching all 6 main numbers with one ticket is 1 in 13,983,816. In our archive it has been drawn about every 1.0 days. UK49s Teatime results and draw history · UK49s Teatime statistics
What to think about when you compare games
There’s no “best” game, only different trade-offs. When you look at the table, it helps to ask yourself:
- How long are the odds? Longer odds mean a harder jackpot but usually a bigger one when it rolls over.
- How often is the game drawn? A daily game gives more frequent results, and more frequent chances to spend.
- Is there an extra ball? It can change which prizes you can win and, for some games, makes the top prize harder to hit.
- What’s my budget? Decide your total spend first, then choose how to use it. A game choice never changes the odds within that game.
Whichever game you play, every valid combination has exactly the same chance and past results can’t predict the next draw.
Playing sensibly
A lottery ticket is a small bit of entertainment, not a way to earn money. Set a fixed budget you’re happy to lose, never chase losses and never borrow to play. If gambling is affecting you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available from the National Responsible Gambling Programme on 0800 006 008 (please double-check the number on their official website). Read our responsible play page
Frequently asked questions
Which South African lottery game has the best odds?
It depends what you mean. Of the games we track, Daily Lotto has the shortest main-number odds (1 in 376,992) and Lotto the longest (1 in 20,358,520). Shorter odds usually mean smaller jackpots, and some games also need an extra number for the top prize, so check the official rules for the full figure.
Which game is drawn most often?
In our archive, Daily Lotto has the shortest average gap between draws, at about 1.0 days. Draw schedules are set by the operator and can change, so check the official channels.
Does a bigger jackpot mean better odds?
No. A bigger jackpot is a bigger prize, not better odds. The odds are fixed by each game’s number format.
Are the games’ results connected?
No. Each game has its own draw and its own results, so the numbers in one say nothing about another, even on the same night.
Can I improve my odds by choosing a particular game?
You can choose a game with shorter or longer odds, but within any game every valid combination has exactly the same chance. No game, system or pattern can improve your chances of a random draw.
Where do the figures on this page come from?
The number formats come from our game records, and the odds are worked out from them. Draw dates and prize data come from the results we keep in our archive, taken from what the operator publishes. If something here differs from the official information, the official information is correct.
Related guides
- PowerBall vs Lotto: how the two games compare
- Daily Lotto vs weekly games
- Lottery odds explained, game by game
- How to play Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max
- South African lottery results and ticket checker
TechChamp is an independent information site. We aren’t affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the South African National Lottery, Ithuba or any official operator, and we don’t sell tickets.