SA Lotto Results & How to Play

How does SA Lotto work?

South African Lotto is the flagship game of the National Lottery, run by Ithuba. You pick six numbers from a pool of 1 to 52. Six main numbers are drawn each draw, plus one bonus ball. To win the jackpot you need to match all six main numbers; the bonus ball does not count towards the top prize, but it comes into play for certain second-tier prizes, boosting what you win if you match five main numbers plus the bonus. This is a pooled national lottery, not a fixed-odds bookmaker bet, so the prize money comes from ticket sales and is shared among winners in each division. A standard entry costs a set price per board, and you can pick your own six numbers or take a Quick Pick, where the terminal chooses a random set for you.

The Lotto jackpot rolls over whenever nobody matches all six main numbers, so it can grow steadily across successive draws until someone finally wins it. That rollover is why you sometimes see very large advertised jackpots after several draws without a top-division winner. Below the jackpot there are further prize divisions for matching fewer numbers, with the bonus ball lifting some of those tiers. Because it is a pooled game, the exact prize in each division is not fixed; it depends on ticket sales for that draw and how many players share the tier, so the figures change every time. This is a fundamentally different model from lucky-numbers bets like UK49s or Gosloto, where you play against a bookmaker at posted odds rather than pooling with other players for a shared, rolling jackpot. Always play within a set budget.

What are Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2?

When you buy a Lotto ticket you can add Lotto Plus 1, and then Lotto Plus 2, each for an extra cost on top of your main entry. These are separate draws that reuse the same six numbers you chose for the main Lotto, so you do not pick fresh numbers; you simply enter the same set into two more draws. Each Plus game has its own prize pool and its own jackpot, which means adding them gives you two extra chances to win from a single set of numbers. In most cases you must be playing the main Lotto to add the Plus games, and you generally add Lotto Plus 1 before you can add Lotto Plus 2. Check the exact terms at your retailer or channel, as add-on rules are set by Ithuba.

You are never obliged to play the Plus games; you can enter the main Lotto on its own, or add one or both, and it is your choice every time you buy. Because the three draws are independent, your six numbers might win in one game and not the others, so if you added the Plus games you need to check all three sets of results separately. Many players add both Plus games automatically for the extra chances, but it does increase what you spend per entry, so factor that into your budget rather than treating it as free. The Plus draws take place on the same nights as the main Lotto, so you do not have to wait for separate draw days. Keep your single ticket safe, as it covers whichever games you added.

When is the Lotto draw?

Lotto is drawn twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and the Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws take place on the same nights. Ticket sales for each draw close a short while before it takes place, so buy in good time if you want to be in that night, because late entries roll to the next available draw. You can play at licensed Ithuba retailers across South Africa, and through authorised online and banking-app channels offered by several local banks. Whichever way you enter, keep your printed ticket or digital confirmation safe, since you need it to claim a prize and there is a limited window to do so. Draw times can occasionally shift around public holidays, so if you are close to a cut-off it is worth confirming the timing on the day.

Lotto prize divisions

SA Lotto pays out across eight prize divisions, so the jackpot is only the top of a longer list. Division 1 needs all six main numbers. From there the bonus ball starts to matter: Division 2 is five main numbers plus the bonus, which pays more than Division 3, where you match five main numbers without the bonus. The pattern continues down the tiers, with the bonus ball lifting alternate divisions. The higher divisions are pooled, so the prize is shared among the winners in that tier and changes from draw to draw depending on sales. The lowest division pays a smaller, steadier amount for matching three main numbers. The table below sets out the eight divisions and what each requires; because the pooled amounts vary every draw, always check the official Ithuba breakdown for the specific date you played.

How do you check SA Lotto results?

• Find the results for the correct draw date, either Wednesday or Saturday.
• Match your six numbers against the six drawn numbers to see if you have the jackpot.
• Check the bonus ball for the divisions where it counts, such as five main numbers plus the bonus.
• If you added Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2, check each of those draws separately with the same numbers.
• Play only at licensed Ithuba retailers or authorised online and banking-app channels, and keep your ticket to claim.

Frequently asked questions