How to Play Online Lottery – A Simple Guide for South African Beginners

You don’t need to be a tech guru to find your way around a lottery site. In these few steps, you’ll register an account, get your ticket and a draw. Let’s get started!

1. Choose a Reputable Online Lottery Site

The first step in playing online lottery is choosing a licensed and reputable online lottery site in South Africa. There are several options online, so settling on one might be challenging. To make your search easier, you should consider the following factors to help you make a decision:

• License: Check for the license information of a particular site. It is usually available at the bottom of the homepage.

Credit: theLotter

• SSL Certificate: A reliable site will always provide proof of SSL certificate. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to find this information.

Credit: LottoAgent

• Customer Support: Ensure that the site provides reliable customer support service that you can reach via email, phone, and live chat.
• Payment Options: Check that the site provides legitimate payment services. The methods should be diverse, including bank cards, e-wallet and crypto options.
• Mobile App: The lottery site should be mobile-friendly and provide an app for iOS and Android.
• Game Library: Check the game selection that the site offers. There should be a large library consisting of both local and international lottery games.

Let’s take a look at some sites that provide excellent services.

2. Set Up Your Account

Now that you have found a set that meets the legal standards and your preferences, the next step is to secure your spot with them. You do not have to pay a registration fee to become a member of a lottery site. Using theLotter as an example, we’ll show the registration process below.

1. Visit theLotter website.
2. Click on the log in/sign up icon to sign up.
3. Click the link as shown in the image below.
4. Enter the necessary information into the fields provided.
5. Another alternative is to easily register with your Facebook account.

3. Fund Your Account

Your account has to be funded to get a chance to enter the draws of your preferred lottery game. Reputable online lottery sites will offer legitimate and diverse payment options. Some sites even provide crypto methods. Here’s how to easily fund your account, using theLotter as an example:

1. Click the Deposit button at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Enter the requested information.
3. Select your preferred deposit option.
4. Enter the amount you want to deposit.
5. Complete the transaction with the prompts displayed on the screen.

4. Select Preferred Lottery Game

With a funded account, you can buy as many tickets your budget can allow. South Africans can participate in several major and minor international lotteries online. There are different lottery formats you can play.

• Lottery Games: These games usually require players to match numbers up to six numbers, and a special number in most cases. Examples of these games are US Powerball, SA Lotto, SuperEnaLotto, El Gordo, etc.
• Scratch Cards: This format involves playing with scratch cards. If your card contains the winning numbers, you win.
• Raffle: Players buy a raffle ticket with a code on it. If your raffle code is drawn, you win.

Before playing a lottery game, you should be familiar with the odds and prizes divisions. For example the odds of winning the SA Lotto jackpot is 1 in 20,358,520 and the prizes are in 8 divisions.

5. Pick a Lottery Strategy

A lottery strategy will help you pick numbers that can increase your winning chances. Here are a few strategies you can implement in your gameplay:

• Wheeling System: This system helps you select a large group of lottery numbers and group them into several possible combinations.
• Frequency Analysis: This involves analyzing past draws to know which numbers appear more frequently than others. Identifying hot and cold numbers can help you select numbers that are more likely to win.
• Pair System: It involves selecting pairs of numbers that usually appear together in winning draws. Knowing these pairs can help you build  number combinations with higher chances of winning.

6. Choose Your Numbers

The numbers you choose determines whether you win or lose the draw. This is why you should be equipped with adequate knowledge to boost your winning chances.  You can select your numbers manually by implementing the strategies we mentioned above. The other alternative is to use the Quick Pick feature which helps you to generate numbers. Whatever option you use, remember that the lottery is a game of chance, so relax and hope for the best.

7. Follow the Draws

After entering the draw, you must keep up with it to know if you’ve won the jackpot or any other prize divisions. If you win, the lottery site will send you a notification. This is why you should always check your phone for any notification. The claim limit for lottery prizes in South Africa is 365 days. So, if you’re not aware that you’ve won a prize, you might lose the prize.

8. Claim Your Winnings

One of the advantages of playing the lottery online is that it is easier to claim your winnings. When you win the lottery, the online vendor will pay your winnings into your user account. You can then make a withdrawal using any payment method you prefer. Here’s how to withdraw your winnings from a lottery site, using theLotter as an example.

1. Click the account icon at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Click My Account.
3. Click the Withdraw tab.
4. Complete the transaction by following the instructions displayed on the screen.

Within a few hours or working days, your prize will be deposited in your bank account.