South Africa Powerball

South Africa Powerball began on October 23, 2009, and it has since become one of South Africa’s well-loved lotteries because of its huge jackpots, good odds, and generous contributions to charity.

The draws happen every Tuesday and Friday and have a guaranteed minimum top prize of R3 million. Usually, this jackpot increases significantly as a result of continuous rollovers. In 2011, the top prize reached a record-breaking R102 million after 24 draws without a jackpot winner.

Powerball was introduced to the country nine years after the establishment of the South African National Lottery. The game was intended to create bigger jackpots, huge prizes, and have more winners than the country’s main Lotto 6/49 draw.

The first Powerball draw had a jackpot value of R30 million. Since it was launched, South Africa Powerball’s popularity grew quickly, and each draw generates roughly R13 million in ticket sales.

How to play South Africa Powerball

You must choose five numbers from the first pool of numbers from 1 to 45, then one number from the second pool from 1 to 20. To win the top prize, you need to match each number correctly to the selected numbers during the Powerball draw.

If there is no jackpot winner, the prize will rollover to the next draw until someone wins it. The good news is there is no rollover cap so the jackpot can keep growing. The biggest jackpot ever won was R102,016,595, which was won by a very lucky single ticket holder coming from the Free State province in 2011. Jackpots are paid in lump sums and tax-free.

The draw is televised live on Channel SABC2 from Johannesburg. The results are posted online soon after the winning numbers have been confirmed.

Aside from the jackpot, eight prize tiers are up for grabs, which require players to match from just the Powerball to win a prize. You can buy tickets every day, but retailers stop selling them 30 minutes before each Powerball draw and resume selling after the draw is finished so players can purchase tickets for the next game.

Where to buy Powerball tickets

Players from South Africa can purchase tickets from a lottery retailer, automatic machine, mail subscription, cash register, mail subscription or over the internet using a computer, laptop or mobile device.

Players who are not residing in South Africa can also play Powerball through online ticket concierge services, which employs agents to buy tickets for them. So now, even players outside of South Africa can also enjoy participating in the South Africa Powerball.

Keep in mind that you must be at least 18 years old or above to be allowed to play.

South Africa Powerball prizes

Nine prize tiers are up for grabs and players can win a variety of prizes. The prize tiers are made up of a portion of the prize fund, and the total amount of a prize given to players depends on ticket sales, as well as the number of winners in that particular tier.

Biggest record wins on South Africa Powerball

As long as there is no jackpot winner, the top prize will rollover to the next draw until it is won. Because there is no rollover cap in place for the South Africa Powerball, repeated rollovers have yielded some massive jackpot wins. The biggest South Africa Powerball jackpots are listed below, according to size.

R102 million. In May 2011, the top prize was won by a young man living in the Free State province. This jackpot is the biggest in the history of the South African lottery.

R91 million. In February 2010, this jackpot was won by a mother of two coming from the Western Cape with her first ever Powerball ticket.

R69 million. In July 2010, this jackpot was won by a father who lives in the Western Cape. He intends to use his winnings to start a business and wants to continue supporting various charitable institutions.

All winners can choose to remain anonymous, and they receive their prizes in a tax-free lump sum. However, players who live outside of South Africa should check with a local tax consultant to learn if they have to pay taxes on their prizes. Winners must claim their prize within a year of the draw date.

It’s all for a good cause

The South Africa Powerball was established to raise money for various charities across the country. Roughly 34% of the revenue generated by lottery sales in the country is donated to the Good Causes fund, which is one of the biggest percentages in the world. It is estimated that around 82% of residents in South Africa play lottery games, which include Powerball, making it one of the most popular games in the nation.