How to Play Powerball (SA)
It’s clear why Powerball is rated as the most popular lottery game in South Africa. For one thing, it delivered the biggest ever jackpot paid out to a South African player – over ZAR 232 million!
To make it easy for you to get in on the game and increase your chances of also walking away with a huge prize, use our helpful guide below. We cover all relevant topics, from who can play to how you play and what to do when you strike it lucky.
In a Hurry?
Here’s the must-know facts about this lottery, so you can start playing South Africa’s Powerball.
| Numbers to win the jackpot | 6 (5 General + 1 Powerball) |
|---|---|
| Jackpot type | Rollover |
| Number range | 1 – 50 & 1 – 20 |
| Prize categories | 9 |
| Draw days | Tuesday, Fridays |
| Draw time (SA Time) | 9 pm |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Claim period | 1 year |
| Biggest Jackpot | ZAR232,131,750 (Update: August 2023) |
Powerball Basics and Rules
Knowing the facts of the game can make you a better player and increase your chances of winning. Below we cover all relevant information on playing South Africa’s Powerball, from the rules to draw times and prizes. Scroll down to find the information you need to improve your play.
Playing Powerball
The lottery operators have strict rules in place. Even when playing Powerball via a lottery site like Lotto Agent, their policies will determine details such as who is eligible to play.
Here’s a quick summary and notes when you’re considering playing this game:
| Feature | Rules | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age requirement | Minimum age: 18 | Stores and online platforms may request verification of your age. Vendors can refuse to sell tickets to you if you can’t prove you’re old enough. |
| Ticket price | Standard price: ZAR5.00 | This cost will apply when you use most of the certified outlets or online lottery portals offering the Powerball game. However, note the following:
|
Rules and Structure
Powerball is a South African lottery for which you can purchase tickets every day of the week. Each ticket will be for a specific draw, either on a Tuesday or a Friday evening.
Players can pick their own set of numbers, or use a Quick Pick option where random numbers are chosen for you.
Understanding the Powerball Structure
When playing Powerball your set of numbers will contain the following:
- General numbers: 5 numbers chosen from the number range 1 – 50
- Powerball number: 1 number chosen between 1 and 20
During each draw, using an RNG (random number generator), the lottery operator chooses a set of 6 numbers. For a player to win the jackpot, all 6 numbers must match. There are also additional prize tiers, giving players a total of 9 categories in which you can win a prize.
Since this lottery has a rollover jackpot, the main prize increases every time it’s not won. There’s also no jackpot cap, which is the reason why there have been such big winners in the past.
An add-on to SA Powerball is the Powerball Plus game. By paying an additional ZAR2.50, your set of numbers will be entered into a second draw. This game has smaller prizes, but has another 9 prize tiers that can make you a winner.
Drawings and Prizes
The Powerball draws take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. All draws take place at 21:00 and results are confirmed on various platforms, including TV, YouTube and on lottery related websites.
Two of the 9 prize tiers have predetermined prizes, but all other categories’ prize money is dependent on the available prize pool. The pool is affected by ticket sales and a percentage of the pool is allocated to each category. The winners in that category will share the prize money relevant to that tier.
Here’s the full prize tier list for clarity:
| Category | General Numbers | Powerball | % of Prize Pool / Fixed Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 1 | 26.14% |
| 2 | 5 | 0 | 1.92% |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1.20% |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 2.04% |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 3.30% |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 1.92% |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 1.44% |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | ZAR15 |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | ZAR10 |
After checking Powerball results and realising you’ve won, the process of claiming your prize will depend on how you played the game and how much you’ve won. For example:
| Method of Play | Claiming a prize |
|---|---|
| At retailer | Small prizes can be claimed at outlets immediately, while larger prizes require a claims process at a regional office. |
| Play via app, website or banking app | Smaller prizes are paid out automatically, while large prizes require a visit to a regional office |
| Play using lottery sites | Review the platform’s rules and regulations. |
How to Buy a Powerball Lottery Ticket
Ticket prices purchased from the operator may differ from those of online platforms. To manage your budget, review the ticket price details. Below are examples of what to expect.
| Method of Playing SA Powerball | Cost |
|---|---|
| Purchase from registered retailer | ZAR5.00 |
| Operator’s website | ZAR5.00 |
| Operator’s app | ZAR5.00 |
| Banking app | Convenience fees may apply with some banks.FNB/Nedbank/ABSA: ZAR5.00 |
| Online lottery site |
|
| USSD | ZAR5.00 |
To play Powerball Plus, you’ll pay an additional ZAR2.50.
On average you have until 30 minutes before a draw to purchase your tickets, but how you play determines the exact cut off time. For example:
- In store purchases: The latest you can buy a ticket is 8:30 pm. Ticket sales open when stores open.
- Banking apps: They may only give you until 8:25 pm to buy tickets. Certain banks, including Capitec, also don’t allow lottery purchases between midnight and 6 am.
- Online lottery sites: Policies stipulate the cut off time for a specific draw.
Based on the facts above, you can pick the best method for playing Powerball. Luckily, thanks to its popularity, there are multiple service providers offering the game, including:
- Official brick-and-mortar outlets
- National Lottery website
- National Lottery app
- Banking apps
- Lottery sites
How to Play Powerball Online
You can play South Africa’s Powerball game from anywhere in the world thanks to online lottery sites. Platforms will either allow you to bet on the outcome of the game or purchase real tickets on your behalf and handle claims processes for you.
Steps to follow:
1. Pick a trusted lottery site – Use one that will work best for you, such as using your preferred payment methods.
2. Open an account – Account creation is free. Provide identity information and set a password for security.
Source: Lotto Agent
3. Deposit money into your player’s account – Transfer money from your bank to your player wallet to pay for lottery tickets.
4. Navigate to the SA Powerball lottery – Lottery sites have filters and menus for easy navigation.
Source: Agent Lotto
5. Pick the number of lines – Decide how many lines or boards you want to play. Some vendors may have a minimum requirement.
6. Pick your six numbers for each line – Use features like ‘Quick Pick’ or ‘Easy Pick’ or select your own. You must pick 5 general numbers and 1 Powerball number.
Source: Agent Lotto
7. Activate subscription features – Subscriptions are optional. You automate future buys and it will make the numbers relevant for future draws.
Source: theLotter
8. Confirm your purchase – Add Powerball bet slips to your cart and complete the transaction. If your players account doesn’t have enough funds, the system will request you make an additional deposit.
9. Receive confirmation – Notifications may be sent by text or email. When using a lottery site that buys real tickets on your behalf, such as Lotto Agent, you’ll receive proof in the form of an email with a scanned copy of your ticket. When you bet on the outcome, view existing betting slips in your profile’s account summary.
10. Wait for the draw and check results – Most online lottery sites will inform you when you’re a winner, or use their Powerball results pages to review winning numbers.
11. Get your winnings – With online lottery sites prizes are usually paid out automatically. Follow up with customer care if nothing shows within a few business days. Check policies about the need to travel in order to claim large prizes in person.
How to Play Powerball In-Store
Many South Africans enjoy buying tickets at their local grocery stores, cafes and fuel stations. It’s easy to place your bet while you’re out running other errands, since there are multiple outlets in most towns and cities. Simply keep an eye out for the bright yellow signage!
When arriving at such a kiosk, a retailer will assist you with the following:
1. Prove your age – Players must be at least 18 years old, so you may be asked to provide proof of ID.
2. Confirm the game – Tell the assistant you want to play Powerball, because various South African lotteries’ tickets, including Daily Lotto and SA Lotto, are sold at one kiosk. You can also use a lottery betslip to indicate your preferences.
3. Pick your numbers – Use ‘Quick Pick’, so the retailer can activate the feature for you and automatically print out your betting slip. Or, fill in your betting slip with your chosen numbers and hand it to the retailer to capture the information on the system.
4. Pick Powerball Plus – Confirm whether you want to activate the Powerball Plus add on game, to enter your numbers for an additional draw. This is optional.
5. Pay for your ticket – At brick and mortar retailers, only cash is accepted as payment, no credit or debit card payments. Make sure you have enough cash on hand when entering the store.
6. Receive your ticket – The Powerball ticket will be a printed slip (receipt), containing your chosen numbers. Check if details are correct.
7. Fill in your personal details – The back of the ticket has dedicated spaces for your name, ID number and address. To prove ownership, write in your information.
8. Place tickets in a safe place – Make sure your ticket doesn’t get lost or stolen..
9. Check results – Watch the draw on TV or online or use various online platforms that publish the Powerball SA results as soon as they’re confirmed.
10. Claim prizes – Your personal details aren’t captured on the system, so you must claim prizes in person – no automated payments will be made. You can claim your money at registered outlets or visit a regional office if the prize money is more than ZAR50,000.
How to Play Powerball via Banking Apps & More
South Africa’s lottery operator and other entities have made it easier for South Africans to play the lottery, all thanks to websites and apps. You can use the National Lottery’s own website, or their app, available for Android and iOS.
Source: National Lottery
In addition, certain South African banks also provide the service of helping you buy lottery tickets. Just note that this may require an additional fee, as it’s a service they provide. You can usually play using any type of account, including credit card and savings accounts.
Source: FNB
Here are quick guides for South Africans to use:
- Register a free account by sharing your personal details.
- Use OTP code and verification email to confirm the account.
- Receive email and SMS confirmation of the created account.
- Complete your profile with security questions, bank details and more.
- Navigate to the Powerball page.
- Select your numbers for each board you want to play. Use Quick Pick or choose your own.
- Activate Powerball Plus if you wish to.
- Add the tickets to your cart.
- Confirm payment for all tickets in your cart.
- Wait for the results.
- Receive payment of small winnings in the bank account provided. Larger prizes may need to be claimed in person.
Must know information:
- You can use the same account on the operator’s website and mobile app.
- You’ll be asked to verify your account by uploading your ID and a proof of residence.
- Register a free account or use the login details of your National Lottery website account.
- Navigate to Powerball.
- Use Quick Pick or choose numbers.
- You must activate the Powerball Plus option – it’s not automatically selected.
- Complete payment for all tickets in your cart.
- Check the results to see if you’ve won.
- Small wins will be paid automatically but larger amounts may require in-person claims at a regional office.
Interesting information:
- The app allows you to find your nearest lottery retailer.
- You can use the same account for the National Lottery’s app and website.
- The app is available for Android devices, tablets and iOS devices.
For USSD play, the steps will be determined by the menu options created by your bank. The following steps will form part of the process:
- Dial the USSD code related to your bank.
- Pick the lottery you want to play. Most banks support Lotto and Powerball.
- Confirm which bank account the payment should be deducted from.
- Security steps to safeguard your bank account.
- Menu items will guide you in picking numbers, board quantity and whether you want to activate Powerball Plus.
USSD betting won’t require any data. The money will be deducted from your banking account.The USSD codes to use for the main banks in South Africa are:
- Nedbank: *120*001#
- ABSA: *120*2272#
- Capitec: *120*3279#
- Standard Bank: *120*2345#
- FNB: *130*321#
For most banks, steps similar to the following will apply when playing via their app or website:
- Activate your mobile banking service.
- Make sure you have money in your account.
- Navigate to ‘Buy’ option.
- Pick lottery games and select ‘Powerball’.
- Use ‘Quick Pick’ or ‘Pick Numbers’ option.
- Confirm the number of draws you want to enter that set of numbers for.
- Activate Powerball Plus if you wish to.
- Submit the information.
- Use the banking app or other online platforms to monitor Powerball results and see if you’ve won.
Important notes:
- Review the policies for daily limits, so you know how much you can play each day.
- The app will usually store your ticket history, so you can review them and easily replay a set of lucky numbers.
- Banks may set a minimum and maximum number of boards you can purchase at a time.
- Small prizes are paid to your account automatically, but larger wins require a claims process that involves the lottery operator. You will need your ID, bank account details and the reference number the bank will provide.
How to Know if You Won the Powerball Lottery?
The lottery operator does not capture information of players who buy tickets in store, so they won’t notify you if you win a prize. Therefore, when purchasing a physical ticket in person, it’s your responsibility to compare your numbers with the draw results.
When using other methods to play Powerball, such as betting via an app or a lottery site, automated notifications usually apply. They may also automatically pay winnings into your account.
Here’s a table so you know what to expect.
| Method of Play | How to Know You’ve Won |
|---|---|
| In store | Watch the draw or wait for results to be published. Compare the winning numbers with your ticket. |
| Banking app | Automated SMS or in-app notifications are usually sent to all winners, no matter how much you’ve won. |
| National Lottery website | Notifications are sent to all winners. |
| Lottery sites | Vendors have unique processes, but usually they have automated notifications via email or an app. |
What Happens If You Win the Powerball Lottery?
- Jackpot winners will be paid a lump sum. Annuity payments are not an option with South Africa’s Powerball game.
- You do have the right to stay anonymous.
- For South African winners using the official lottery system, the lottery operator, Ithuba, offers trauma and financial counselling to help you best plan for the road ahead.
Final Thoughts
There are loads of reasons to play Powerball in South Africa! Use your chance to win over ZAR200 million if the jackpot grows. Also, there are many ways to play, whether you prefer getting a ticket from the comfort of your own home, or while you’re out and about in any South African city or town.
You know the basics now, and with a little luck and some smart lottery strategies, you can be the next name on the jackpot winners list.
FAQs
In South Africa you can purchase lottery tickets at stores or play via the operator’s app and website. You can also buy tickets on lottery sites.
Yes, you can play South Africa’s Powerball game from almost anywhere in the world. You can use certain South African banking apps, or make use of user-friendly online lottery sites like theLotter. Some platforms allow you to bet on the outcome, while others purchase authentic tickets on your behalf and will handle the claims process as well.
All players must be 18 years or older. You may need to prove your age when buying tickets or claiming a prize.
Players usually have until 30 minutes before a draw to purchase tickets. However, the exact cut off time will depend on the platform or service you use to place your bets.
The standard price for Powerball is ZAR5/ticket. When using alternative platforms and vendors, such as a banking app, convenience fees and service fees may apply.
Yes, all players can pick their own numbers when buying a Powerball ticket, so you can use lucky numbers or a sequence generated by the Powerball number generator. You also have the option of using a ‘Quick Pick’ feature, in which case a random set of numbers will be selected by the system on your behalf.
Powerball requires you to pick 6 numbers in total. You’ll select five general numbers and another Powerball number from a different number range. You only win the jackpot if all 6 numbers match.
Powerball draws take place on Tuesdays and Friday. The draws happen at 9 pm local time.
In general, lottery winnings are not taxed in South Africa, so you’ll receive your full winnings without any deductions being made. However, players who have regular wins and therefore have prize money as their primary source of income may need to pay tax on lottery wins.
It’s best to declare any Powerball winnings to the South African Revenue Service so there’s clarity on where your money comes from. You can also consult a tax lawyer on this topic so you know when tax will start applying to your lottery winnings.
The biggest Powerball win happened in February 2019 when one winner walked away with ZAR232,131,750. This is also the biggest ever lottery win in terms of South African lotteries.
No, there’s no jackpot cap with the Powerball game. The main prize keeps growing each time it’s not won and the available jackpot is determined by ticket sales that increase the prize pool.
You need to claim Powerball prizes within 1 year of a draw. After 365 days your ticket will no longer be valid.
DailyLotto is ZAR 300,000 on