LOTTO is a popular South African National Lottery Game comprising of a base game LOTTO and two add-on games (offering a second and third chances to win) called LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 (collectively they are referred to as LOTTO Games).

Please refer to the official LOTTO Game Rules available on the National Lottery website.

LOTTO Games are Jackpot draw based games offering the top prize known as the Jackpot, along with 7 further consolation prizes for matching various numbers from the winning selections in the draw. Draws are held twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday (Excluding Christmas Day), participants may select 6 out of 58 numbers that can be entered into a draw.

The Lottery Operator will draw 7 numbers from the range 1-58, the first six are the main numbers drawn and the last one is known as the Bonus number or Bonus Ball.

A participant may enter the LOTTO or LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 in the following ways:

1. Presenting a completed Bet Slip to a Retailer. On any one Bet Slip a Participant may make a selection from a minimum of one entry and a maximum of the number of entries included on the Bet Slip. Each selection is made by manually marking 6 numbers within one entry or by manually marking the QUICK PICK box. The completed Bet Slip is processed through the Terminal, which will issue the LOTTO Ticket/Receipt recording each Selection marked on the Bet Slip.
2. Alternatively a participant, may play by indicating in person to a Retailer the requested digits or numbers to be entered manually into the Terminal by the Retailer.
3. Requesting a number Selection to be made on a random basis by the Lottery Processing System through a Quick Pick.
4. A retailer with a terminal (And for E-Commerce players using the mobile web, App and E-Commerce sales channel), can ask for/select up to 20 QUICK PICK selections on one ticket.
5. Selecting random set of 6 numbers at an alternative point of sale other than the terminals where a participant can purchase an entry into the LOTTO/LOTTO PLUS 1/LOTTO PLUS 2. These would include Banking Apps, Mobile Application, Mobile Phones and any other additional channels.
6. Participants can elect to play for the current draw and for up to 10 draws in advance by making the appropriate selections on-line or on the Bet Slip or by asking retailers to make the selection at the terminals.

• In order to play LOTTO PLUS 1 a participant must first make a selection and play LOTTO base game.
• In order to play LOTTO PLUS 2 a participant must first make a selection and play LOTTO base game and LOTTO PLUS 1 game.
• The numbers selected in the base LOTTO game will be used in the LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 draws.
• There will be separate draws for each of the LOTTO Games.

The RNG is a computer system that is used to randomly choose the winning LOTTO, LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 numbers.

LOTTO, LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 winning numbers are broadcast on SABC 2 on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 20:57. The winning numbers are uploaded at 20:30 after ticket sales close, audited for accuracy, and then rendered into an engaging TV animation. While the draw itself is not live, the broadcast shares the winning numbers live with viewers. Results are also available shortly after 21:00 on the National Lottery website, mobile site, social media, YouTube, and retailer terminals.

No, the Random Number Generator is used to draw winning numbers.

Tickets can be purchased daily at an existing National Lottery outlet, the National Lottery website or mobile app. LOTTO, LOTTO PLUS 1 / LOTTO PLUS 2 tickets sales close at 08:30pm on any given draw day.

There are 40,475,358 different combinations that one can play when choosing 6 out of 58 numbers. The order of matching the numbers does not matter in relation to how they are selected.

The table below shows the odds of winning a prize and the prize pay-out structure for LOTTO, LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2:

A jackpot will rollover for as many times as possible until it is won. Rollovers occur when a jackpot is not won. In the event that the jackpot of a specific draw is not won, it is rolled over to the next draw and added to the jackpot amount of the specific draw.

In the event that a rollover coincides with a guaranteed jackpot, the rollover amount is included in the guaranteed jackpot.

Before each draw ITHUBA estimates and advertises a jackpot based on expected ticket sales. A guaranteed jackpot is a planned and assured minimum amount offered to players. This means that the prize will never be below the guaranteed amount. A rollover amount is a jackpot prize that would have been won, had the drawn numbers been matched, and is carried to the next jackpot.

If the actual sales create a jackpot higher than the guaranteed amount then the actual sales determine the value of the jackpot (i.e. it will be higher than the guaranteed amount).

Every week the Jackpot is estimated at an amount, according to expected sales. The total prize pool is calculated at 48% on LOTTO and 50% of total sales for LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2.

With special draws, ITHUBA will offer a guaranteed Jackpot prize that is not affected by sales, unless a higher Jackpot amount is expected because of rollovers. 

LOTTO,LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 players have up to 365 days from the day of the draw to claim.

After each draw, all unclaimed prize money is held in a Participants Trust Fund until it is claimed. If not claimed after 365 days the funds will transfer to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) for distribution to Good Causes. A portion of the funds unclaimed may be used in Guaranteed Jackpot top-ups. ITHUBA also contributes a portion of its own money to boost guaranteed jackpots.