How to Play Australia Saturday Lotto – 5 Steps for Beginners

Winning a weekend lotto is the cherry on the top while enjoying some down-time, especially if your prize is the jackpot. You certainly wouldn’t wake up with the Monday blues if you strike it lucky with the Australia Saturday Lotto but what if you’re a first-timer to this game?

No need to sweat – you’ve come to the right place for all the tips and steps to playing the Australia Saturday Lotto! Our beginner’s guide tells you everything you need to know about this Oz Saturday lottery game that’s played nationwide (and worldwide.) We’ll ensure you don’t miss out on a Superdraw and you won’t be confused when you hear the word “SlikPik!”

Read on to sharpen your lottery skills so you know how to play Australia Saturday Lotto and be in line for the next $5 million or more jackpot prize. It’s easy, exciting, and the perfect game for novice lotto players who want to win millions on a weekend lottery.

What You Should Know About Australia Saturday Lotto

Australia Saturday Lotto

How Did the Australia Saturday Lotto Start?

Australia’s lotteries are licensed according to the state or territory in which the games are played. The licensed industries managing the games include state government, not-for-profit, and private entities with most major lotteries now available online.

Over the years, Australia’s lotteries have undergone major changes with a significant event being Tatts Group Limited taking over all state-government-owned lotteries. However, Lotterywest in Western Australia remains the only state-owned and operated lottery in the country.

Australia Saturday Lotto started as far back as 1972 and was originally a New South Wales lottery game. However, it’s now played in other Oz states and it’s currently operated by Tattersall’s (in 2017 Tatts joined hands with Tabcorp Holdings Limited.)

It’s marketed under several names depending on the state it’s played in which could get a bit confusing if you’re new to the game! Here are the other names used for Oz’s Saturday Lotto according to the states it’s played in:

  • Tattslotto: Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory
  • Gold Lotto: Queensland
  • X Lotto: South Australia
  • Lotto/Saturday Lotto: New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Western Australia.

Age to Play the Australia Saturday Lotto

Several rules and regulations control the Australian lotteries with the minimum age to play the Australia Saturday Lotto set at 18 years old. However, this has been lowered to 16 years for lottery players in Western Australia.

Where to Play the Australia Saturday Lotto

You can play the Australia Saturday Lotto in all Australian states at one of the many lottery retailers throughout the country. There are over 4,000 authorized lottery agents in the country, making the game most accessible if you prefer the in-store option. However, it’s as easy to play the Saturday Lotto using the official or third-party online marketplace.

Pick Your Numbers Saturday Lotto

If you’re playing from another country you can register an account with a regulated and licensed site such as theLotter. Not only is it user-friendly for beginners but fast customer support responses from these platforms ensures you don’t miss your first Saturday Lotto game as a newbie!

Where to Play the Australia Saturday Lotto

Source: TheLotter

Opening an online account with a vendor like LottoAgent is a safe option for beginners venturing into lotto games worldwide. It gives you quick and easy access to the popular Oz Saturday Lotto and reading the terms and conditions will guide you through the payment methods and payout rules. These platforms often offer 24/7 customer support which is invaluable if you’re a new player with lots of questions.

When Draws Take Place

The Australian Saturday Lotto draws take place every Saturday evening at 8.30pm AEST (9.30pm AEDT.). Live drawings are broadcasted on television and lottery players can tune into Channel 7/7TWO just before the draw takes place on Saturday evenings.

Cut-off times for ticket sales are 7.25 pm AEST but check closing times if you’re playing through an online lottery site. These may be different from the official cut-off times in Australia.

Price of Tickets

Ticket prices vary depending on how many you buy and if you purchase them from the official lottery operator or from a third-party agent. The minimum number of games you can play is four and it’ll cost you AU $3.30 and if you’re playing through a third-party online lottery site, a small handling fee is normally charged.

Odds of Winning

The odds of winning the Saturday Lotto jackpot stand at 1 in 8,145,060 with an overall chance of getting a prize coming in at 1 in 42. There are six prize divisions – you can win money on the lowest tier if you match three main numbers.

Supplementary numbers are additional bonus balls drawn from the main barrel after the six main numbers have been drawn. These supplementary numbers are applied to Divisions 2 and 5 and determine the prizes for these tiers.

This table illustrates the divisions, winning combinations, and the odds of winning each tier.

Prize Tier Winning Combination Odds of Winning
1 (Jackpot) 6 main numbers 1:8,145,060
2 5 main numbers + 1 or 2 supplementary numbers 1:678,755
3 5 main numbers 1:36,689
4 4 main numbers 1:733
5 3 main numbers + 1 or 2 supplementary numbers 1:297
6 3 main numbers 1:53

The jackpot is estimated to start at AU $5 million depending on the number of tickets sold. If the main prize isn’t won it rolls over to the next draw so occasionally Division 1 winnings sit at AU $10 million. However, it’s not unusual to have a jackpot winner at most draws!

What is the Australia Saturday Lotto Superdraw?

Around six times a year, a special event known as the Superdraw takes place to up the excitement of the Oz Saturday Lotto. The Superdraw offers a jackpot prize of AU $20 million or more and replaces the usual AU $5 million Saturday Lotto main bonanza. The Superdraws take place on Saturday evenings five to six times throughout the year.

What is the Australia Saturday Lotto Megadraw?

Besides the Superdraw, another thrilling Saturday Lotto event is the once-yearly Megadraw. This popular annual event normally takes place the weekend before or after the New Year’s holiday and the jackpot offering is AU $30 million or more. In 2021, 15 Australians became millionaires overnight after winning the Megadraw event!

Highest Jackpot Ever Won from the Australia Saturday Lotto

The highest jackpot ever won from the Australia Saturday Lotto was by a syndicate that struck gold by winning AU $4.8 million. Throughout the years of playing this lotto game, winners have won jackpot prizes ranging from $1 million to over $1.5,000,000. The jackpot is shared between winners.

Three New South Wales brothers won $2 million from a Superdraw on Saturday, July 31st, 2021 when they purchased a combined ticket for the draw. In February 2023, there were eight Division 1 winners who shared the main prize equally.

5 Steps to Play the Australia Saturday Lotto

1. Choose How to Play (Online or In-Store)

The first step to playing the Saturday Lotto is deciding whether you’re going to purchase a ticket in-store or play online. If you live in or are visiting Australia as a tourist or on business, you can play at one of the many licensed retailers throughout the country. Otherwise, open an online account on the official lottery site.

The other option is to register on an online lottery platform that offers the Oz Saturday Lotto. This is the best method for lottery players playing from outside of the country.

Oz Saturday Lotto

Source: LottoAgent

2. Pick Your Numbers and How Many Lines to Play

To win the Saturday Lotto jackpot, you need to pick six numbers from 1 to 45. If you pick more numbers, make sure you tick the System Entry box on your ticket. For example, System 7 allows you to play seven numbers. System 20 is the highest, allowing you to pick 20 numbers.

The System Entry option increases your chance of winning by playing every possible six-number combination from your chosen numerals. If you’re playing the System Entry method, you only need to play once per game. However, if you’re using the Quick Pick or manual option, you need to play a minimum of four games.

You can manually choose your own numbers or opt for the Quick Pick option which is known as “SlikPik” in Australia. The SlikPik method randomly selects your lucky numbers for you. Online lottery sites include a number generator for players who don’t want the hassle of picking their own digits.

3. Select How Many Draws to Play

Once you’ve picked your numbers and entry type, you can select the number of draws you want to play. You’re allowed to enter between 1 to 10 consecutive draws. Most online lottery sites such as WinTrillions let you sign up for subscription deals. This facility automatically submits your numbers for each Saturday Lotto draw.

Saturday Lotto draw

Source: WinTrillions

4. Pay for Your Ticket

If you purchased your ticket at a retailer, hand in your playslip at the till point. A printed ticket will be given to you which must be kept as proof of your entry for a draw. Most licensed lottery agents in Australia accept debit or credit cards as well as cash payments for your lotto ticket.

Australian Saturday Lotto draw

If you’re paying through a third-party lottery platform, most sites offer several payment methods including using your online wallet if you have funds available.

5. Wait for the Draw

You’ve picked your numbers, paid for your ticket, and now all you can do is wait for the draw to take place before seeing if you’re a Saturday Lotto jackpot winner! Saturday Lotto results are published soon after the drawing and can be found on the official lottery website.

If you played using an online lottery site, winners will be notified and prize money deposited into your eWallet. However, different claim processes may apply for bigger prizes.

Tips on How to Win Australia Saturday Lotto

Explore the Different Lottery Wheeling Systems

Avid lottery players use several different lottery strategies to help them win the game. Some will use the lottery wheeling system to improve their chances of winning the lotto which is based on a mathematical approach. This strategy arranges your numbers into scientifically determined combinations that give you a higher probability of hitting the bonanza prize!

There are a variety of lottery wheeling systems with the key number wheel being the most affordable. Using the different systems helps beginners to come up with several number combinations while increasing their chances of winning the Saturday Lotto game.

Analyze Past Draw Numbers

Analyzing the past draw numbers helps to whittle down what could potentially be the lucky winning digits for the next drawing. Focusing on hot and cold numbers from past draws is a popular strategy used by keen players who prefer to pick their own lottery numerals.

Hot numbers are those that are drawn frequently and the most common ones in the past 180 days have been 1, 22, 18, 11, 42, and 8. The most overdue or cold numbers in the past 180 days are 26, 3, 28, 37, 27, and 7.

Use Numerology for Your Lucky Lottery Numbers

For eons, people have relied on numerologists to help them identify lucky numbers. Numerologists believe everyone has lucky numbers based on their birth or zodiac signs. Using your horoscope lucky lottery winning numbers doesn’t guarantee a jackpot prize but it’s certainly worth the try!

The benefits of using your horoscope lucky numbers include not stressing about picking the right numerals every time you play Saturday Lotto. These numbers are meant to have higher vibrations too making them more powerful at draw time!

Take Tips From Secrets Shared by Lottery Winners

Lottery winners use different strategies to win the jackpot and finding out their lotto secrets could help you be the next Saturday Lotto winner! Their tips include some of the following approaches:

  • Play unpopular games that have better odds of winning the jackpot
  • Avoid Quick Pick numbers
  • Play the same numbers at every game

Some of the biggest lottery winners will tell you to use number combinations or join a syndicate to up the odds of hitting the Oz Saturday Lotto Division 1 prize.

Join a Lottery Syndicate

Another way you can win the Saturday Lotto is to join a lottery syndicate. This allows you and the other members to buy more tickets which increases your odds of winning the jackpot. You can create your own syndicate with family members, friends, or work colleagues who are willing to pool their money with you in a lottery game.

Many licensed online lottery sites offer syndicates for members to join and if there are winners the prizes are shared equally between the players. This method prevents any arguments between the winners and reduces admin hassles as well!

Play Every Saturday

Playing consistently immediately increases your chance of winning the Saturday Lotto jackpot or other divisions. Buying tickets every Saturday ensures you’re entered into the Lotto game. Another option is to sign up as a subscription member with an online lottery platform that automatically renews your ticket for every game.

Opting for the subscription deal means you don’t have to stress about forgetting to buy a ticket for a Saturday game.

How Do You Claim if You’ve Won a Prize from the Australia Saturday Lottery?

If you purchased your ticket in Australia, there are different claim periods depending on which state you played in. Make sure you’re fully aware of the claim periods if you don’t want to lose out on your winnings:

  • 6 years: New South Wales and Australia Capital Territory
  • 3 years: Northern Territory
  • 7 years: Queensland
  • 6 months: Tasmania and Victoria
  • 12 months: South and West Australia

The claiming process varies as well depending on where you bought your ticket and the prize money you’ve won. If you played in Australia, you can only claim your winnings from the state you played in.

State Claim Process
Australia Capital Territory/New South Wales
  • Up to $1,000 – claim at a NSW lottery retailer.
  • Over $1,000 – visit the lottery Head Office in person.
South Australia
  • Up to $500 – claim at an SA-authorized lottery retailer.
  • $501 to $5,000 – use a Claim Form and submit it to the Head Office for payment through the post or EFT. Alternatively, claim in person
West Australia
  • Up to $500 – Claim from a Lotterywet retailer.
  • Over $500 – claim from Lotterywest Head Office for payment directly into your bank account.
Queensland
  • Up to $1,500 – Claim from a licensed lottery outlet.
  • Over $1,500 – Submit a Claim Form or go in person to Head Office.
Northern Territory
  • Up to $1,500 – Claim from a licensed lottery outlet.
  • Over $1,500 – Submit a Claim Form through the post.

Jackpots and Division 1 prizes are subjected to a two-weeks provisional period in all states. If you played through an online lottery platform smaller wins are paid immediately into your eWallet. Familiarizing yourself with the rules and regulations of payout rules will guide you through the claim processes for bigger prizes.

Final Thoughts

The Australian Saturday Lotto is an exciting game and many millionaires have been made through this Oz lottery. It’s a great lotto for beginners PLUS its special events such as the Superdraw and Megadraw give you a chance to score more than AU $5 million! It’s as easy as 1-2-3 and our steps show you how to do it in no time at all!

FAQs

Who can play the Australia Saturday Lotto?

Anyone can play the Australia Saturday Lotto although all prize claims must be made in the state the ticket was purchased if you played inside the country. Worldwide lottery players can access the exciting lotto game through a licensed and regulated online lottery platform.

Are there people who won the Australia Saturday Lotto?

There have been many winners who have won the Australia Saturday Lotto with the jackpot claimed at most draws in recent years. Superdraw and Megadraw also result in instant millionaires and winners are announced on the official lottery website, local newspapers, and on online lottery sites. However, winners are allowed to remain anonymous.

Is the ticket price for the Australia Saturday Lotto worth it?

At $3.30 for four games, the ticket price for the Australia Saturday Lotto is absolutely worth it especially as there’s almost always a jackpot winner. The eight divisions make it equally possible to win a prize and the additional Superdraws and Megadraw increase your chances of becoming a millionaire with this game.

How many numbers do you need on Australia Saturday Lotto to win?

To win the Australia Saturday Lotto, you need to match six main numbers from 1 to 45. Different prize tiers have various winning combinations with a bonus ball or number included on Divisions 2 and 5.

What do you get for two numbers on the Australia Saturday Lotto?

The Australia Saturday Lotto doesn’t include a prize tier for two numbers. The lowest winning combination is three numbers and your winnings are dependent on the prize pool percentage which is 42%.