To play PowerBall, you must pick five main numbers from 1 to 50 and one PowerBall from 1 to 20. Draws are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 21:00 South Africa Standard Time (SAST), and it costs R5 per line. You can also choose to add PowerBall Plus to your ticket, giving you an extra chance to win millions. Find out more about how to play Powerball, whether you play at a retailer or online.
You can buy PowerBall tickets from stores across South Africa. It is simple to take part and you just have to follow a few quick steps:
Go to any licensed retailer and pick up a betslip.
Choose five numbers between 1 and 50, plus one PowerBall from 1 to 20. Alternatively, mark the Quick Pick box on your betslip to have your numbers generated at random.
Play as many boards as you would like on the betslip.
Select how many draws you would like to enter, between two and 10. Leave blank if you wish to play a single draw.
Decide whether you want to add PowerBall Plus to your ticket for an extra R2.50 per line.
Buy your ticket from the retailer and keep it safe until the draw.
Check the winning numbers to see if you are due a prize.
You do not even have to fill out a betslip to play through a retailer. Instead, you can just ask the cashier for a Quick Pick or tell them your selections. You are eligible to play as long as you are at least 18 years of age, and you do not have to be a resident of South Africa to be able to buy a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased between 06:00 and 23:00 SAST on non-draw days, but sales close at 20:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays - half an hour before the draw takes place.
Each PowerBall line costs R5, but the total price of your ticket depends on how many draws in advance you wish to enter, the number of boards you played and whether you have also decided to play PowerBall Plus. You can find out more on the Rules page.
As an alternative to playing in-store, you can also take part in PowerBall online. Follow these steps to choose your numbers over the internet:
Create an online account.
Pick your numbers or opt for a Quick Pick.
Choose how many lines you want to play and how many draws you wish to enter.
Confirm your purchase and wait for the draw to take place.
The advantage of playing online is that you do not have to worry about keeping your ticket safe or even checking the results. Your numbers are kept secure and you will be notified if you win a prize, with the money paid directly into your online account.
You also have various other options for how to participate in PowerBall. You can use your mobile to select your own numbers or a Quick Pick via SMS, or request a Quick Pick through USSD. You can also buy tickets from alternative sales channels such as a cash register or automatic machine where PowerBall is available.
Another option is to enter through one of South Africa’s banks, such as First National Bank (FNB), Nedbank, Standard Bank and Absa, along with Capitec, African Bank and TymeBank. You can either use the online banking service or a dedicated app. You just need to have an account with the bank. Log in to choose your game, select ‘play now’, pick your numbers and buy your entry. You can make your purchase on your account or with your eBucks.
The draw works using a Random Number Generator (RNG) rather than a ball machine. Five main numbers are selected from 1 to 50, along with a PowerBall from a separate set of 1 to 20. The order in which the main numbers are drawn is irrelevant, but the PowerBall is always the final number in the draw.
The objective is to match the numbers you choose with those drawn in the lottery. The more numbers you match, the bigger your prize. You need to match all five main numbers plus the PowerBall to win the jackpot, but there are also eight other ways to win. Visit the Dividends page to find out how many numbers you need to match in each division.
You must claim PowerBall prizes within 365 days of the draw taking place. The claims process depends on how you played and how much you won, but licensed retailers can pay out prizes up to R5,000. For larger amounts, you will need to go an authorised payment centre or one of Ithuba’s regional offices. Go to the How to Claim page for more information about redeeming prizes.
