What is the SA Daily Lotto?
The SA Daily Lotto is the most-played local lottery game in South Africa. It is operated by ITHUBA Holdings, the National Lottery licensee, and regulated by the National Lottery Commission. The mechanic is simple: 5 balls drawn from 1 to 36, every night. Match all five and you split the jackpot; match four, three or two and you win at smaller prize tiers.
At NGB-licensed South African bookmakers — primarily ZarBet and BetBus — you can place a fixed-odds bet on the same numbers used in the official ITHUBA SA Daily Lotto draw. This is a betting product, not a lottery ticket. You are not buying an ITHUBA entry — you are betting that certain numbers will appear, at a price the bookmaker sets in advance.
The bookmaker version is what we cover on this page. For official ITHUBA tickets, visit nationallottery.co.za or a licensed lottery retailer.
How the draw works
- Pool: 5 main balls drawn from 1–36.
- Draw time: nightly at approximately 21:00 SAST.
- Draw closing time (for official ITHUBA tickets): 20:30 SAST, per published bookmaker rules.
- Frequency: Monday to Sunday, every night.
- Odds of matching all 5: 1 in 376 992, per the National Lottery's own published figures.
Bookmaker fixed-odds vs official ITHUBA tickets
This is the single most important point on this page.
| Official ITHUBA Daily Lotto | Bookmaker fixed-odds bet (ZarBet, BetBus etc.) |
|---|
| Pool-based / fixed odds | Pari-mutuel (pool shared) | Fixed odds (locked at placement) |
| Cost per entry | R3.00 per board | Varies — typically R1+ per bet |
| Where to buy | ITHUBA / retail / Capitec USSD | NGB-licensed bookmaker app |
| Maximum prize | Shared jackpot (varies) | Bookmaker payout (capped) |
| Regulator | National Lottery Commission | National Gambling Board |
If you want the chance at a shared jackpot (R200k+ some nights), play the official ITHUBA ticket. If you want fixed, known payouts before the draw happens, place a bookmaker bet.
How fixed-odds SA Daily Lotto bets work at SA bookmakers
A typical South African fixed-odds Daily Lotto ticket looks like this (prices vary by operator):
- Pick 1 number from 1–36 — wins if that number is among the 5 drawn balls. Typical price ~5/1.
- Pick 2 numbers — both must be drawn. Typical price ~30/1.
- Pick 3 numbers — all three must be drawn. Typical price ~250/1.
- Pick 4 numbers — all four must be drawn. Typical price 7 500/1 — R10 returns R75 000.
- Pick 5 numbers — all five must be drawn. Headline jackpot price; typically capped at a maximum payout.
Source: Hollywoodbets Daily Lotto guide, blog.hollywoodbets.net.
This is the lowest-variance Lucky Numbers product on the SA market — single-number tickets land at a far higher rate than UK 49s or Pick 3, but the payouts are correspondingly smaller.
SA Daily Lotto predictions — what they really mean
Every Lucky Numbers blog publishes "hot" and "cold" numbers for the SA Daily Lotto. They are entertainment, not predictions. Each draw is independent. The probability that the number 7 will be drawn tonight is the same regardless of how often it appeared last week.
Where predictions add real value:
- Avoiding patterns most other players pick. If you do match all 5 on an official ticket, you'd rather not share the jackpot with 500 other people who picked 1-2-3-4-5.
- Stopping you from picking the same numbers every night out of habit.
Our Lucky Numbers predictions today page publishes fresh daily picks for UK 49s, SA Daily Lotto, Pick 3 and Fafi — deterministic entertainment picks, not frequency analysis.
Where to bet on SA Daily Lotto in South Africa
- Hollywoodbets — our overall top pick and one of SA's biggest Lucky Numbers operators.
- PantherBet — our Editor's Pick for an all-round SA betting account.
- ZarBet — a Lucky-Numbers specialist with a strong fixed-odds Daily Lotto market. Headline 4-number price of 7 500/1.
- BetBus — competitive on single and double number bets.
For official ITHUBA tickets, nationallottery.co.za or any Capitec / FNB digital lottery channel.
SA Daily Lotto tips for South African players
- Decide which product you want first. Bookmaker fixed-odds = predictable, capped payouts. ITHUBA official = chance at a shared jackpot. They are not the same product.
- Stick to 1- and 2-number fixed-odds bets for most stakes. The variance on 3+ pick tickets is high; 4- and 5-pick tickets are essentially long-shot lottery-style bets.
- Set a daily budget. Daily Lotto runs 365 nights a year — it is easy to overspend without noticing.
- Use the bookmaker's player-protection tools — deposit limits, time limits, self-exclusion. See our Responsible Gambling page.
SA Daily Lotto FAQ
What is the SA Daily Lotto?
A nightly 5/36 lottery operated by ITHUBA Holdings. Bookmakers offer fixed-odds bets on the same draw.
What time is the SA Daily Lotto draw?
The draw is at approximately 21:00 SAST, every night. ITHUBA ticket sales close at 20:30 SAST.
Where can I bet on SA Daily Lotto in South Africa?
At ZarBet and BetBus (fixed-odds bets), or at nationallottery.co.za / Capitec digital channels (official ITHUBA tickets).
What are the odds of winning the SA Daily Lotto jackpot?
1 in 376 992, per the National Lottery's published figures.
Are SA Daily Lotto predictions accurate?
No — and any site that claims otherwise is misleading you. Each draw is independent. Hot / cold tables are entertainment, not strategy.
Related Lucky Numbers guides
Odds correct at time of writing. T&Cs apply. 18+ only. Gambling involves financial risk. Lottery 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.
