How to Play Powerball South Africa – 5 Steps for Beginners

The Powerball lottery game is well-known. Even novice lotto players know about the famous US Powerball! But, it’s not the only one to consider. There’s Powerball South Africa as well and to become a pro at playing it, you’ve come to the right place.

Powerball South Africa offers winners huge jackpots – the largest on record is R232 million (approximately $12,643,323.00). Not bad if you want to become a mega-millionaire overnight! This Powerball game is South Africa’s giant jackpot lottery and is popular for both locals and foreigners trying their luck in lotto games.

We share five steps to get you started on SA Powerball and the game is open to players worldwide – we show you how to do it. We’ve included some great tips too so read on and try your luck with Powerball SA – it could be your turn to win the country’s largest jackpot!

What You Should Know About Powerball South Africa

South africa powerball

How Did Powerball South Africa Start?

The first South African National Lottery Board was established in 1998, a year after the Lotteries Act was passed. President Thabo Mbeki launched the first lottery in South Africa on March 2nd, 2000 in Langa, Cape Town and the first lotto draw took place on March 11th, 2000.

Fast forward to October 23rd, 2009 when South Africa joined countries such as the US, France, and Australia to play Powerball. SA Powerball soon became popular for its big prizes and for dishing out some of the largest jackpots in the history of the South African lottery.

On November 28th, 2015, the Powerball rules were changed and the Powerball Plus game was introduced on the same day. This gave lotto players the opportunity to increase their chances of winning the Powerball jackpot on the same draw.

Age to Play Powerball South Africa

You can play Powerball SA as long as you’re 18 years or older. You’re only eligible for claiming lottery winnings if you’re 18 or older.

Where to Play Powerball South Africa

Lotto players have several options for playing Powerball SA. Tickets can be purchased at licensed retailers throughout the country – there are over 8,000 authorized lottery vendors to pick from.

If you can’t access one of the in-store options, you can play online using the official Ithuba National Lottery website.

Furthermore, if you’re playing from another country, you can register on an online lottery site such as theLotter platform. These sites offer easy access to players and even fast customer support which is beneficial for beginners to the game.

Pick five numbers SA Powerball

Online lottery platforms like LottoAgent also give you access to Powerball SA as well as other jackpot games. With user-friendly interfaces it’s easy for beginners to navigate but it’s important to read the terms and conditions before playing a game. This way, you’re fully informed of the rules and regulations regarding payment methods and payout rules.

LottoAgent

Source: LottoAgent

When Draws Take Place

Powerball SA gives lottery players two opportunities every week to hit the big jackpot! Draws take place on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 9pm, local South African time.

Live draws take place in Cape Town and can be watched on the following channels from 8.58pm:

  • Mzansi Magic – DSTV Channel 161
  • Newzroom Afrika – DSTV Channel 405

You can also watch the live draw on the Ithuba National Lottery YouTube channel or official website. Online lottery sites will post SA Powerball results as soon as the draws have taken place.

Price of Tickets

Powerball SA tickets cost R5.00 per line with Powerball Plus being an additional R2.50 per entry. There are no limits on how many boards you play, giving lottery players even more chances to win the main prize!

Odds of Winning

The odds of winning the South African Powerball stands at 1 in 18 and the game offers players nine prize tiers. Prize money is given out even if you only match the Powerball!

Prize Tier Winning Combination Odds of Winning
1 – Jackpot Match 5 main numbers + Powerball 1:42,375,200
2 Match 5 main numbers 1:2,230,274
3 Match 4 main numbers + Powerball 1:188,334
4 Match 4 main numbers 1:9,912
5 Match 3 main numbers + Powerball 1:4,280
6 Match 3 main numbers 1:225
7 Match 2 main numbers + Powerball 1:299
8 Match 1 main number + Powerball 1:57
9 Match Powerball 1:35

Highest Jackpot Ever Won from Powerball South Africa

The highest jackpot ever won from Powerball South Africa was R232 million won by a Capetonian player who claims he’ll continue to work despite hitting the bonanza prize! This jackpot rolled over 24 times before it was won in February 2019 – the exact prize amount was R232,131,750! The lucky winner only paid R22.50 for his winning ticket.

The second record jackpot was over R167 million and was won by an anonymous player in Ballito, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The winner opted for the Quick Pick method and paid R150 to hit the main prize. Not a bad investment at all!

5 Steps to Play Powerball South Africa

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

The first step to playing Powerball South Africa is to decide whether to play online or in-store. Purchasing physical tickets at one of South Africa’s licensed stores is simple and you can use cash or your debit card to buy boards.

Online facilities are available on the Ithuba National Lottery site or through a reputable and licensed lottery platform. Register by opening an online account on a lottery site like LottoSmile before playing. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions in order to understand the conditions such as taxes on winnings.

2. Select Which Draw Days You Want to Play

Powerball SA draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you’re buying your ticket in-store, you can select how many draws you would like to enter for up to 10 games. If you only want to play a single draw, leave this part of your board empty.

If you’re using your online account, select which draws you’re playing and how many by following the website’s instructions.

3. Pick Your Numbers and How Many Lines to Play

Pick five numbers between 1 and 50 and one Powerball from 1 and 20. You can purchase as many lines as you want for R5.00 per entry. If you want to play Powerball Plus, select the option and pick your numbers before clicking on ‘Play.”

Powerball SA hot numbers

Both physical and online tickets give you the option to play the Quick Pick method. This playing method selects random numbers for you. Online lottery platforms also allow you to generate random numbers.

4. Pay for Your Ticket

Once you’ve picked your numbers, hand in your ticket if you’re playing at a licensed retailer and pay with cash or your debit card. Remember to keep your ticket and receipt as proof of your purchase when claiming a prize.

If you’re playing online, hit the “Play” button before making a payment. Online lottery sites such as LottoLand offer you several payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill. You can also buy your lottery ticket with your online wallet.

Pay for Your Ticket

Source: LottoLand

Wait for the Draw

Now, sit back and relax as you wait for the draw to take place! If you don’t watch the live draw, the results will be uploaded onto the official Ithuba National Lottery website.

Online lottery sites will notify winners of their winnings with small prizes deposited immediately into their online wallets. If you’ve won the jackpot, you’ll be guided through the process of claiming your millions!

Tips on How to Win Powerball South Africa

Tip 1: Use Lottery Technology

If you want to start big from the beginning, consider using lottery software and prediction tools to pick your numbers for you. Lottery technology narrows down your number choices which could increase your odds of winning the Powerball SA jackpot. Beginners to the game should use lottery software that’s user-friendly and compatible with both Windows and Apple users.

Look for lottery prediction tools that give you a free edition so you can test it out before deciding if it’s the right package for you. When picking software, make sure it supports many lotteries worldwide including Powerball SA.

Tip 2: Use the Law of Attraction to Pick Your Numbers

Not everyone enjoys technology and if you prefer trusting in the universe to help you pick your numbers, using the law of attraction is a popular lottery strategy. Using the concept of manifestation, this method relies on focusing your attention on particular numbers to increase their vibrations. It’s believed that the higher the vibration, the luckier the number!

When using the law of attraction to win the Powerball SA remember to send out positive feelings to the universe. This is a major drawcard for attracting lady luck and a lottery win!

Tip 3: Use Hot and Cold Numbers

Pro lottery players often rely on hot and cold numbers to help them win Powerball. Hot numbers are those that are drawn frequently and have a higher probability of coming up in the next draw. Beginners can use the Powerball SA hot numbers for starters and these are 15, 29, 49, 3, 38, and 16. 

Cold numbers are those drawn less frequently and for this very reason, could suddenly crop up in the next draw. Avid lottery players use cold numbers as part of their winning strategy and Powerball SA’s least picked ones are 1, 26, 33, 23, 44, and 20. Number 11 is the most overdue number to be picked!

Tip 4: Play Consistently

Playing consistently is one of the easiest and possibly quickest ways to win the SA Powerball. All you have to do is buy a ticket (or more) for every draw on a consistent basis. Avid lottery players say that this is the one strategy they always stick to no matter which game they’re playing so learn from the pros and do the same.

Tip 5: Decide Between Quick Pick vs Your Own Numbers

The quick pick playing method is easy for beginners venturing into any lottery game but picking your own numbers manually gives them more weight! Selecting your own numbers is exciting and allows you to use your lucky numerals.

When deciding between lottery quick pick vs own numbers, statistics do show that the random number generator is more popular. And, the second-highest Powerball SA jackpot was won with a quick pick! But, other wins have been from manually picked numbers so decide for yourself which playing method appeals to you most.

Tip 6: Create Various Number Combinations

Another tip from lottery winners includes creating various number combinations. Picking single and double digits can increase your chances of becoming a millionaire. The lottery wheeling system is one strategy novices in the game can use to come up with number combinations that are based on mathematical calculations.

Beginners can manually pick number combinations using their lucky numbers or pick from the Powerball SA hot and cold numerals. This takes the angst out of trying to find new numbers.

How Do You Claim If You’ve Won a Prize from Powerball South Africa?

Knowing how to claim your lottery winnings when you win Powerball SA saves you a lot of hassles and stress! Powerball and Powerball Plus winnings must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date. How to claim your prize depends on your playing method and how much you’ve won.

For tickets purchased in-store, winners can claim their prizes as follows:

  • Up to R2,000 – Present your winning ticket to a licensed retailer for immediate payment.
  • Between R2,000 and R49,999 – Claim from an authorized payment center. You’ll be sent a check or receive an EFT payment into your bank account within 72 hours.
  • R50,000 and above – Present yourself at a National Lottery Regional Office to claim your prize in person. An EFT payment will be made into your bank account once your claim has been validated.

If you played online using the Ithuba National Lottery website, all prizes below R50,000 will be paid directly into your online account. For winnings over R50,000, you’ll need to present yourself at one of the Ithuba regional offices in the country.

If you played Powerball SA using an online lottery platform, smaller prizes are normally deposited directly into your eWallet while larger prizes may follow a different process. Reading the terms and conditions will inform you of the payout rules.

Final Thoughts

Playing Powerball SA as a beginner is easy and fun with the prospect of huge jackpots being the main attraction for many lottery players. Using our simple 5 steps will get you started as well as applying the tips shared in this article. Before you know it, you’ll be playing like a pro and you never know – you could be the next record winner of Powerball SA’s giant jackpot lottery!

FAQs

Who can play Powerball South Africa?

Powerball South Africa is open to both South Africans and foreigners residing in the country. However, non-residents must comply with certain regulations before claiming winnings. Lottery players can access Powerball SA from anywhere in the world when using a licensed and regulated online lottery site.

Are there people who have won Powerball South Africa?

Since the launch of Powerball South Africa in 2009, there have been numerous lucky winners. Five lucky players won the jackpots in 2020 while the first record prize was won in 2011. One winner scored R153 million in 2021 while there were two jackpot winners in 2019. The most recent jackpot winner won the April 18, 2023 draw which saw a prize of over R75 million.

How many numbers do you need on Powerball South Africa to win?

In order to win the Powerball SA jackpot you need to match all five main numbers plus the Powerball. The five numbers are between 1 and 50 while the Powerball digits are between 1 and 20. There are eight other prize divisions that give you smaller winnings.

What do you get for two numbers on Powerball South Africa?

There’s no option for winning a prize on two numbers. However, if you match two main numbers plus the Powerball, you win a small prize. The chances of winning are 1 in 299 and the average payout is R21.82.

Do you pay tax on lottery winnings in South Africa?

No tax is levied on lottery winnings in South Africa. Prize money is considered capital and is therefore exempt from Income Tax. However, tax laws differ between countries and if you’ve won the Powerball SA playing from another country, your winnings could be taxable. Familiarize yourself with your local tax laws so you stay above board, legally.