Lottos have been around in some shape or form for thousands of years, although the modern concept of the lotto has roots in the 16th century. South Africa was a relative newcomer to the industry, with the Government only signing off on The National Lotteries Act in 1997. Nevertheless, people from Durban to Cape Town and Johannesburg simply cannot get enough of trying their luck in the lotto.
Although there are a few different types to choose from nowadays, Powerball lotto is by far the largest attraction. It has paid out well over R100,000,000 on several occasions, gifting lucky players quite the jackpot. Despite the small chances of winning, many people buy a ticket and hope for the best every week. Keep reading for a few reasons why you should play Powerball lotto.
What is Powerball?
First things first, what is Powerball? It’s worth commenting on this before we get into the nitty gritty, especially as many people aren’t aware of the intricacies regarding different types of lottos. This is arguably South Africa’s most popular type of lotto, offering players an uncapped jackpot that has risen to above R100,000,000 on several occasions.
Draws are held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, so you don’t have to wait long to see whether you’ve been successful or not. Powerball lotto helps in various communal and charity schemes. For example, it recently gave a grant to the South Coast Hospice, proving its commitment to helping the local community.
Betters enter Powerball lotto by ticking off five numbers on the entry card and choosing a specific Powerball. The numbers are drawn from a pot containing numbers 1-50 and a Powerball pot containing numbers 1-20. If you guess the right numbers in the right sequence, you win! Probability-wise, the chances of winning are 1 in 292201201338.
Other Ways to Enjoy the Powerball
The huge jackpots are one of the main reasons why you should bet on Powerball, but don’t worry if you’re not in a position to do so. There are several other ways to enjoy this exciting lotto. For example, if you’re worried about the financial implications of buying a ticket each week, you could try and guess the numbers just for fun.
Alternatively, you could bet for the same cash prizes as with the official lotto, using fixed odds lotto betting. For example, you could check the SA powerball results and then place bets accordingly. Although this isn’t the same as entering the official lotto, it can be just as much fun.
Some of the Largest Powerball Jackpots of All Time
Why should you play Powerball? Well, the biggest attraction to most people is understandably the astonishing jackpots on offer. The size of them always depends on how many times the jackpot has rolled over, but it’s rarely small. In fact, many of the largest Powerball jackpots of all time have been exceptionally large. Here is a rundown of the top three:
R232,131,750: 19.02.2019
The largest jackpot in South African Powerball history was generated by 24 consecutive rollovers. The outrageous R232,131,750 jackpot caused a commotion across the country and millions of people scrambled to get their numbers in. At the end of the day, a ticket purchased in Tygerdal ended up winning the jackpot.
R167,332,410: 11.02.2022
The second highest SA Powerball jackpot ever came about after months of rollovers, ultimately arriving at a huge R167,332,410. The lucky winner used the quick pick option, purchasing their ticket in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal. We wonder whether they would have ever thought this simple decision would end up granting them a truly outrageous jackpot. It’s the magic of Powerball, after all!
R158,035,647: 27.07.2021
The R158,035,647 jackpot, won on 27.07.2021, was the largest online lotto win in South African history. A woman from the Northwest had the good fortune to win this crazy sum of money, after she had lost her job the year before. After winning Powerball, she took her family on a holiday to Durban and set about building her dream home. It was a remarkable turn of events for the lady, who was struggling to find a new job before landing the third largest SA Powerball jackpot of all time.
