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Lotto 29 June 2026
Better Odds, Bigger Payouts?
Lotto and PowerBall Just Had A Glow-Up: Here's What's Different
- SA LOTTO: FEWER NUMBERS, BETTER ODDS
- POWERBALL: TIGHTER POOL, HIGHER PRICE, NEW NAME
- QUICK REFERENCE: THE KEY CHANGES AT A GLANCE
- SHOULD YOU STILL PLAY?
South Africa's National Lottery has been running in some form since 2000, and for most of that time the games have felt reassuringly familiar. You knew your numbers, you knew your price, you knew the drill. But with Sizekhaya taking over as the new National Lottery operator in June 2026, both Lotto and PowerBall have received a meaningful set of changes. Some tweak the odds. Some rename the add-on games.
SA LOTTO: FEWER NUMBERS, BETTER ODDS
The most significant change to the Lotto is one that should make players happy. The number pool is shrinking from 1 to 58 down to 1 to 52. You still pick six numbers, but with six fewer balls in the drum, the odds of hitting the top payout improve considerably. Under the new format, the top payout odds stand at 1 in 20,358,520. For context, the old 1-to-58 pool produced longer odds, so this is a genuine step in favour of the player.
It is worth taking a moment to appreciate what that shift actually means in practice. With a smaller pool, more combinations lead to partial matches too, which means more frequent wins at the lower payout tiers as well. It is not just the top payout that becomes more achievable; the whole game gets a little more rewarding.
The add-on game structure has also been updated. Lotto Plus 1 stays exactly as it is. But Lotto Plus 2, the second add-on draw that gave players two extra chances at the numbers, has been renamed Lotto Max 5. Beyond the rebrand, this signals a fresh identity for the add-on tier, and it is worth keeping an eye on whether the payout structure evolves alongside the new name.
POWERBALL: TIGHTER POOL, HIGHER PRICE, NEW NAME
PowerBall changes are more numerous, and one of them will be immediately noticeable at the checkout.
Starting with the game mechanics: the PowerBall extra number, the one you pick from a separate pool after choosing your main five, now comes from a range of 1 to 16 instead of 1 to 20. That reduction in the PowerBall numbers makes matching the PowerBall itself more likely, which matters because the PowerBall number is what unlocks the top payout. The top payout odds under the new format are 1 in 33,900,160. This smaller extra pool is without doubt better for players hoping to hit the top payout.
Then there is the name change. PowerBall PLUS, the popular add-on that gave you a second draw on the same numbers, has been rebranded as PowerBall XTRA. Same concept, new identity under the Sizekhaya era.
The change that will hit home most immediately, though, is the price. A standard PowerBall bet has moved from R5 to R10 per bet. The PowerBall XTRA add-on has gone from R2.50 to R5. So a full entry, main game plus XTRA, now costs R15 instead of R7.50. That is a doubling of the price across the board.
It is a significant increase, and it is the kind of change that makes players pause. However, when you think about it like this it begins to make sense. Higher bet prices tend to fuel larger top payouts, faster. If the PowerBall consistently rolls over into bigger pools because there is more revenue per draw, the headline numbers have the potential to reach even higher amounts.
QUICK REFERENCE: THE KEY CHANGES AT A GLANCE
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|---|---|---|---|
| SA Lotto | SA PowerBall | ||
| Number pool: 1 to 58 reduced to 1 to 52 | PowerBall Pool: 1 to 20 reduced to 1 to 16 | ||
| Top payout odds: 1 in 20,358,520 | Top payout odds: 1 in 33,900,160 | ||
| Lotto Plus 2 renamed to Lotto Max 5 | PowerBall PLUS renamed to PowerBall XTRA | ||
| Main game bet: R5 increased to R10 | |||
| PowerBall XTRA add-on: R2.50 increased to R5 | |||
SHOULD YOU STILL PLAY?
The changes are mostly straightforward and positive for players. Fewer balls in the drum means better odds, full stop. If you have been playing the Lotto for years, the new format gives you a slightly better shot at the top payout without changing anything about how you play. While the PowerBall has gone up in cost, this is balanced with better odds of hitting the top payout and the potential for much higher payout pools. As always, the choice is yours – and you can bet on local and international lotteries with Lottoland.
SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTO CHANGES FAQ
WHAT HAS CHANGED WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTO IN 2026?
The South African Lotto underwent several changes when Sizekhaya became the National Lottery operator in June 2026. The biggest update is that the number pool was reduced from 58 numbers to 52, while players still choose six numbers. This improves the odds of winning the jackpot and increases the likelihood of winning prizes in some lower tiers. In addition, Lotto Plus 2 was renamed Lotto Max 5, while Lotto Plus 1 remains unchanged.
WHAT HAS CHANGED WITH POWERBALL IN 2026?
PowerBall has seen a number of changes. The PowerBall number pool was reduced from 20 numbers to 16, improving the odds of matching the PowerBall number and winning the jackpot. PowerBall PLUS has also been renamed PowerBall XTRA. In addition, the cost of a standard PowerBall entry increased from R5 to R10, while the add-on game increased from R2.50 to R5.
WHAT IS POWERBALL XTRA?
PowerBall XTRA is the new name for PowerBall PLUS. It is an optional add-on game that gives players a second chance to win using the same numbers entered in the main PowerBall draw. While the name has changed under the new National Lottery operator, the concept remains the same, allowing players to participate in an additional draw for an extra fee.
WHAT IS LOTTO MAX 5?
Lotto Max 5 is the new name for Lotto Plus 2. It acts as a second add-on draw that uses the same numbers selected for the main Lotto game. By adding Lotto Max 5 to your ticket, you receive an additional opportunity to win prizes without having to choose a new set of numbers.
DOES THE NEW LOTTO HAVE BETTER ODDS OF WINNING?
Yes. Because the Lotto number pool has been reduced from 58 numbers to 52, there are fewer possible number combinations. This improves the odds of winning the jackpot, which are now approximately 1 in 20.4 million. A smaller number pool can also increase the chances of matching enough numbers to win prizes in some of the lower payout categories.
WHY HAS THE POWERBALL PRICE INCREASED?
The cost of playing PowerBall increased as part of the 2026 game changes introduced by Sizekhaya. A standard entry now costs R10 instead of R5, while the PowerBall XTRA add-on costs R5 instead of R2.50. Although the price has doubled, players benefit from improved jackpot odds thanks to the smaller PowerBall number pool, and the increased ticket revenue may help jackpots grow more quickly when draws roll over.
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by
Tom
What I Cover: I am always intrigued to discover how lotteries from around the world can seem so different. Thanks to this interest, you will find me writing about the histories, traditions and records of lotteries from every corner of the world!
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