South African street-lottery tradition using a fixed 1–36 grid. Each number is tied to an image or symbol (the Dream Guide). Originated in Chinese-South African communities and remains the most distinctly local Lucky Numbers game.
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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.
The mechanics are simple — that is the appeal.
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.
| 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 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):
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.
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.
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. Our top two are ZarBet (deep market and combination bets) and BetBus (clean Fafi UX with competitive pricing).
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.
Two pages take your Fafi game further, side by side:
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.
Open an account with any NGB-licensed bookmaker that offers Lucky Numbers (ZarBet or BetBus). Pick your numbers, choose a bet type (single, double, total) and stake. Payouts are in ZAR at fixed odds.
Twice daily, Mon–Sat. Bookmakers usually accept bets until ~5 minutes before the official draw time.
Cultural / community draws — payouts via licensed operators (ZarBet, BetBus).
Yes when offered by a licensed operator. The bookmakers we link to are NGB or provincially licensed. You must be 18 or older.
Odds correct at time of writing. T&Cs apply. 18+ only.