PowerBall FAQs

PowerBall is drawn every Tuesday and Friday evening at 21:00 South Africa Standard Time. If the draw falls on a bank holiday, such as Christmas Day, it will be rescheduled.

Ticket sales close at 20:30 SAST on the draw date and reopen shortly after the draw has taken place.

You win prizes if the numbers you select match the numbers drawn. To win the jackpot, you must match all five balls and the PowerBall. There are a total of nine prize categories and you only need to match the PowerBall to win the division 9 prize. Go to the Dividends page for more information about the different ways to win.

You are guaranteed a prize as long as you match the PowerBall. This means that the number selected as the PowerBall on your ticket (the sixth one on the line) must be the same as the winning PowerBall number.

For example, it does not count as matching the PowerBall if one of your five main numbers is the same as the PowerBall. Likewise, if your selected PowerBall is the same as one of the winning main numbers, this does not count as matching a number. The main numbers and the PowerBall are not interchangeable.

The draws are conducted using a Random Number Generator (RNG), which is a computer system that selects the winning numbers at random. The procedures have been approved by the National Lotteries Commission and an independent auditor is present at every draw. Draw machines and balls are also on standby in case the RNG is non-operational.

Some of the prize divisions offer fixed awards but the majority work on a pari-mutuel basis, so the value varies from draw to draw depending on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners. Each prize division is allocated a percentage of the total prize fund and this is divided between all the winners in each category.

Yes, you can play SA PowerBall from all over the world. For more information, see the Buy Tickets page.

Prizes must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date.

Licensed retailers will pay out prizes of up to R50 and, at their own discretion, may also give out awards of up to R5,000. You can claim prizes of more than R2,000 and less than R50,000 from prize payment centres, but for larger awards you must go to one of Ithuba’s regional offices. You can also claim prizes by mail. For more information, visit the How to Claim page

Prizes that have not been claimed within 365 days of the draw are transferred to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund to benefit good causes. The fund allocates money to various sectors, including charities, sports and recreation, arts, culture and national heritage.

You must be at least 18 years of age to play PowerBall.

Winnings are paid out in tax-free lump sums in South Africa. If you enter online, you are advised to consult a financial advisor to find out if you are liable for any taxes on your winnings, as personal circumstances and the country from which you enter can affect how prize money is taxed.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 42,375,200, while the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 18. Have a look at the Dividends page to see the odds of winning in each division.

No, there is no jackpot cap in place, which means the top prize will roll over until it is won.

Guaranteed jackpots are offered from time to time when special draws take place, setting the top prize at a fixed amount. The jackpot can still end up being higher due to rollovers and strong sales, but will not be lower than the guaranteed amount. The date on which these special draws are due to take place will be announced in advance.

The biggest ever jackpot to date was R232 million, which was won on 19 February 2019. See the Winners page for more record jackpots.

The next SA PowerBall draw is on Tuesday 17 December 2024.

PowerBall drawings are broadcast live on e.tv and SABC2.

The PowerBall currently stands at R29,000,000.

It costs R5 to buy one line of PowerBall numbers without adding PowerBall Plus.

PowerBall Plus is a supplementary game that offers you additional chances to win for an extra fee of R2.50 per line. To enter, you simply mark the 'PowerBall Plus' option on your ticket. The numbers you select for the main game will then be entered into a separate draw. As with the main game, there are nine different prize divisions. Go to the PowerBall Plus page for more information.

There are separate draws for each game. If you opt in to PowerBall Plus, your numbers from the main game are entered again into the supplementary draw, so it is possible to win prizes in one game and not the other. The cost of playing and the prizes are different.

No. You must play PowerBall to be able to play PowerBall Plus.

There are just as many prize divisions in PowerBall Plus as in PowerBall and, just like the main game, some prizes are fixed. However, the prize fund is not as large because there are not as many participants and the cost of entry is less. The percentages allocated to each of the other prize divisions are the same as the main draw, but the values depend on how many entrants and winners there are and as such will be different.

The PowerBall Plus draws take place shortly after the main PowerBall draw every Tuesday and Friday night at 21:00 SAST.

You need to present a valid winning ticket to be able to claim a prize and as such have no rights if you lose your entry. However, you can report tickets as stolen and still be paid out if there is sufficient evidence to support your claim. You may also be able to claim a prize with a damaged ticket if the serial number is still intact and it can still be validated. You are advised to put your signature and identity number on the back of your ticket to prevent anyone else from claiming it.

Yes. You can team up with family members, colleagues or friends to buy tickets, although prizes can only be paid to one winner so you will need to designate one member of the group to receive the money.

The first PowerBall draw took place on 23rd October 2009. PowerBall Plus began on 1st December 2015. PowerBall was initially a 5/45 + 1/20 game, before the pool of main numbers was increased from 45 to 50 in June 2018.

When you buy a PowerBall ticket, 50 percent is put towards the prize fund. The remaining 50 percent is split between good causes and operating costs.

Yes. You have the right to keep your identity private when you claim your prize if you wish.