What is Fafi?
Fafi is a uniquely South African numbers game with origins in early 20th-century Chinese-South African communities and a rich, decades-long tradition in townships across the country. The game is built around a fixed grid of 36 numbers, each tied to an image, character or symbol — the so-called Fafi Dream Guide. Players interpret the symbols in their overnight dreams, convert those symbols to numbers using the chart, and bet on the result.
In its modern form, Fafi is a fixed-odds betting product offered by NGB-licensed South African bookmakers — primarily ZarBet and BetBus. Each Fafi draw produces one winning number from 1 to 36. The historical name "Mo-China" (and variants like "Mochaena" in Sotho/Tswana) reflects the cultural roots of the game.
It is the most distinctly local Lucky Numbers game on the SA market. UK 49s and SA Daily Lotto are imports, dressed up for fixed-odds betting. Fafi is South African to its core.
How Fafi works at South African bookmakers
The mechanics are simple — that is the appeal.
- Pick a number from 1 to 36. That is the bet. There is no second ball, no booster, no draw position.
- Choose a stake (typically R1, R5, R10 or R20 — the minimum varies by bookmaker).
- Wait for the draw. Fafi draws run every 15 minutes at most ZA operators, with the result tied to specific Russia Gosloto or in-house draw feeds.
- If your number is the one drawn, you win at the operator's fixed odds — typically around 28-to-1 for a single number, depending on the bookmaker and time of day.
Some operators allow you to stake multiple numbers in a single bet (a "combination" or "any-of-X" ticket) — your stake is split across the numbers and the payout is calculated proportionally.
Fafi vs UK 49s vs Daily Lotto
| Game | Numbers picked | Pool | Frequency | Single-number odds (typical) |
|---|
| Fafi | 1 from 36 | 1–36 | Every 15 min | ~28/1 |
| UK 49s | 1+ from 49 | 1–49 | Twice daily | ~11/2 to 11/1 |
| Daily Lotto | 1+ from 36 | 1–36 | Daily ~21:00 SAST | Varies by pick |
For a single number, Fafi's 1-in-36 pool gives the best straight odds of any SA Lucky Numbers game. It is also the one most tied to cultural meaning rather than statistical analysis.
The Fafi Dream Guide
The Fafi Dream Guide is the heart of the game. Each of the 36 numbers has 3–7 associated symbols — a person, an animal, an object or a concept. Players record what they dreamed about the night before and look up the symbol to find their bet number.
A few examples from the traditional Fafi chart (full A–Z lookup on our Fafi Dream Guide page):
- 1 — King, Human blood, White man, Left eye
- 2 — Monkey, Native, A Spirit, Chief, Copper, Money, Jockey
- 3 — Sea water, Accident, Frog, Sailor, Sex
- 9 — Moon, Baby, Hole, Owl, Devil, Pumpkin, Anything round
- 20 — Cat, Sky, Body, Music, Minister, Naked woman
- 26 — Bees, Crown, Bad man, Bush, General, Funeral, Madman
- 27 — Dog, Policeman, Newborn baby, Medicine, Sad news
- 36 — Shrimp, Stick, Admiral, Cigars, Gum
Different SA operators publish slightly different charts — Hollywoodbets, Sunbet, Bet Central and the original Fafi Dream Guide all align on the core mappings but vary on the secondary symbols. Our Dream Guide A–Z is built from those sources cross-referenced.
Where to bet on Fafi lucky numbers in South Africa
- ZarBet — by far the largest Fafi operator in South Africa. Draws every 15 minutes, the deepest combination-bet markets, the most active live results display.
- BetBus — a strong second for Fafi, with a clean mobile UX, competitive single-number pricing and an integrated Dream Guide. Recommended alongside ZarBet.
If Fafi is your main lucky-numbers game, ZarBet is the default choice, with BetBus as the strongest second.
For deposit bonuses and welcome offers, see our best betting sites in South Africa page.
Fafi betting tips for South African players
- Use the Dream Guide as the cultural product it is. Dreams are personal. The Dream Guide gives you a culturally rich way to pick a number — but it is not a strategy for predicting the draw.
- Spread small stakes across a few numbers if you have a dream that points to several symbols.
- Avoid chasing losses. Fafi runs every 15 minutes, which makes it easy to chase. Set a daily budget before you start.
- Use the bookmaker's player-protection tools. Deposit limits, time limits and self-exclusion are required by South African law. See our Responsible Gambling page.
- Keep records. Players who write down their dreams and the resulting bets tend to enjoy the game longer than those who don't.
Fafi FAQ
Is Fafi legal in South Africa?
Yes. The modern Fafi product is a fixed-odds betting offering at NGB-licensed South African bookmakers and is regulated by the National Gambling Board. The historical street version of Fafi was unregulated; the modern digital version is fully compliant.
Where can I play Fafi online in South Africa?
At any NGB-licensed bookmaker. For Fafi we rate ZarBet — our top pick for Lucky Numbers, with deep markets and combination bets — alongside BetBus (clean Fafi UX, competitive pricing). For an all-round betting account, our overall top two are Hollywoodbets and PantherBet; see the best betting sites in South Africa ranking.
What are today's Fafi lucky numbers?
Fafi draws every 15 minutes, so "today's number" changes around 96 times a day. There is no advance-published list — each draw is independent. Use the Fafi Dream Guide A–Z to pick a number based on your dream, or try the zodiac Pick 3 daily numbers for an astrology-based pick.
How often does Fafi draw?
Every 15 minutes at most NGB-licensed operators, tied to the Russia Gosloto draw feed or in-house draws depending on the operator.
What does the Fafi Dream Guide do?
It maps each of the 36 Fafi numbers to a list of dream symbols (people, animals, objects). Players who dream of a symbol can look up the matching number and bet on it. See our Dream Guide A–Z.
How much does a Fafi single-number bet pay?
Typically around 28-to-1 at ZarBet — an R10 bet pays approximately R280 if your number is drawn. Exact prices vary by operator and draw window.
Next steps for Fafi players
Two pages take your Fafi game further, side by side:
- Fafi Dream Guide — the full A–Z chart of dreams and their numbers, so you always know what to bet.
- Fafi Tricks — bankroll discipline, dream-pairing strategy and stop rules, so you know how much to bet and when to walk away.
New to lucky numbers betting entirely? Start with How to Play Lucky Numbers, or compare Fafi with the twice-daily UK 49s draw.
Odds correct at time of writing. T&Cs apply. 18+ only. Gambling involves financial risk. The Fafi Dream Guide is a cultural product — predictions are for entertainment only. If gambling is no longer fun, contact the National Responsible Gambling helpline on 0800 006 008 or SMS HELP to 076 675 0710.
