What is Russia Gosloto?
Russia Gosloto is one of the busiest Lucky Numbers markets in South Africa — and the reason is simple: while most lotteries make you wait days between draws, the Gosloto 5/36 draw comes around roughly every half hour, all day long. If you enjoy picking numbers and finding out quickly, no other big international draw moves at this pace.
The underlying draws are run by Stoloto, the operator of Russia's state lotteries ("Gosloto" is short for Gosudarstvennaya Loto — "state lottery"). South African bookmakers take those draw results and price fixed-odds bets on them, the same way they price UK 49s or the SA Daily Lotto. You are not buying a Russian lottery ticket — you are placing a bet with an NGB-licensed South African bookmaker, in rand, and the payout is fixed the moment you click "place bet".
The three Gosloto draws SA bookmakers price
South African operators carry three Gosloto variants. Same idea in each case — the number after the slash is the size of the ball pool.
| Draw | Format | How often |
|---|
| Gosloto 5/36 | 5 main balls from 1–36 | Roughly every 30 minutes, day and night |
| Gosloto 6/45 | 6 balls from 1–45 | Several draws daily |
| Gosloto 7/49 | 7 balls from 1–49 | Several draws daily |
Draw schedules for 6/45 and 7/49 have shifted over the years, so treat the upcoming-draws list at your bookmaker as the source of truth — every licensed site shows exactly when the next draw closes for betting.
Why 5/36 is the South African favourite
Two things make the 5/36 draw the one most SA punters play:
- Speed. A new draw roughly every 30 minutes means you never wait long. Markets typically close a minute or two before each draw and reopen straight after.
- A small pool. Only 36 balls are in the drum, and five of them come out. Your single-number pick has a better chance of landing here than in a 49-ball draw — smaller pool, more of it drawn. Wins land more often on 5/36 than on any other draw this size, which is exactly why the odds per number are shorter too.
One thing to know when reading results: Gosloto results feeds often show an extra ball alongside the five main numbers. The standard market at SA bookmakers is the regular draw without the bonus ball — your numbers only need to appear among the main balls.
How Gosloto betting works at SA bookmakers
The flow is the same as every Lucky Numbers market:
- Open the Lucky Numbers section at your bookmaker and pick Russia, then the Gosloto draw you want.
- Choose how many numbers to play — one, two, three or more. The more numbers you pick, the bigger the potential payout and the harder they all are to land.
- Pick your numbers, set your stake, and the slip shows your exact payout before you confirm.
Single-ball picks on 5/36 are priced from around 6.5 at major SA books — R10 returns about R65 when your number comes up. Multi-number picks scale up steeply from there. Most operators also offer Draw Sum markets: instead of picking numbers, you bet on whether the total of all balls drawn lands over or under a set line.
Odds correct at time of writing. T&Cs apply.
Where to bet on Russia Gosloto in South Africa
- Hollywoodbets — the biggest Lucky Numbers lobby in the country (3,000+ draws), with dedicated Gosloto 5/36, 6/45 and 7/49 markets and the results hub most SA punters check first.
- YesPlay — clean dedicated pages for each Gosloto variant with live results, and single-number bets from small stakes.
Both are licensed South African operators paying out in ZAR. For the full comparison, see our best betting sites in South Africa ranking.
Gosloto betting tips
- Start with single and double picks. They land far more often than 4- and 5-number tickets, and the payouts are still meaningful — a double pays out at three figures on a R10 stake at most books.
- Use the draw speed, don't chase it. A draw every half hour is great fun; it also makes it easy to re-stake on autopilot. Decide your session budget before the first draw — the bookmaker's margin is built into every price, so the game is entertainment first.
- Compare prices on bigger picks. Single-ball odds are similar across operators, but 3+ number picks vary more — worth a look before a serious stake.
- Check numbers against the right draw. With dozens of 5/36 draws a day, make sure you are reading the result for your draw time (each has a draw ID).
- Know your tools. Every NGB-licensed bookmaker offers deposit limits and self-exclusion — see our Responsible Gambling page.
Russia Gosloto FAQ
What time are Russia Gosloto draws in South Africa?
Gosloto 5/36 draws run roughly every 30 minutes through the day and night, SAST. The 6/45 and 7/49 draws run several times daily — your bookmaker's upcoming-draws list shows the exact next draw and when betting closes.
Where can I bet on Russia Gosloto in South Africa?
At any licensed SA bookmaker with a Lucky Numbers section. Hollywoodbets has the deepest Gosloto coverage; YesPlay runs dedicated pages for all three variants.
Is Russia Gosloto legal in South Africa?
Yes. Betting on Gosloto draw outcomes is a fixed-odds betting product offered by NGB-licensed bookmakers, regulated the same way as UK 49s betting. You must be 18 or older.
What is the difference between Gosloto 5/36, 6/45 and 7/49?
The number of balls drawn and the pool size: 5 from 36, 6 from 45, or 7 from 49. The 5/36 draw is the most popular in SA because it runs every half hour and has the smallest pool.
Do I win if my number comes up as the bonus ball?
On the standard "without bonus ball" market — the default at most SA books — only the main balls count. Some operators price separate bonus-ball markets; check the market name on your slip.
Related Lucky Numbers guides
Odds and payouts correct at time of writing. T&Cs apply. 18+ only. Gambling involves financial risk. If gambling is no longer fun, contact the National Responsible Gambling helpline on 0800 006 008 or SMS HELP to 076 675 0710.
