EXPLAINER | The difference between SA’s 3 Lotto games
· The South African
Lotto players see three names on their slip every Wednesday and Saturday: Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, Lotto 5 Max.
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Most players tick all three without asking what differentiates them, or whether it’s worth the extra cost.
Here’s the difference between the three Lotto games.
Lotto is the main draw. Pick six numbers from 1 to 52, and match all six to win the jackpot. It costs R5 per board and forms the base of every ticket you buy. Everything else builds on top of it.
The difference between Lotto games starts with the add-ons
The Lotto Plus 1 uses the same six numbers you picked, entered into a separate draw for an extra R2.50. The odds stay identical to the main Lotto draw. As Sizekhaya’s own game rules confirm, only the entry fee changes.
Lotto 5 Max works the same way, replacing the old Lotto Plus 2. It costs R2.50 extra and uses your same six numbers in a third draw.
According to the National Lottery, its standout feature is a guaranteed payout system. That system stops the jackpot rolling over indefinitely.
So what actually changes between the three draws?
Nothing about your numbers changes between Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, and Lotto 5 Max.
The odds of matching all six stay at 1 in 20 358 520 across all of them. Only the prize pool and entry cost shift from draw to draw.
Is the difference between Lotto games worth the extra cost?
That depends on how you look at it.
Paying extra to enter three simultaneous jackpots is a small price for three chances at real money. The odds stay identical across all of them regardless. It comes down to personal budget, not any mathematical edge.
I think the real difference between Lotto games is how much extra you’re willing to spend.
It doesn’t change your chances of winning any single draw, though. Play what your budget allows, and let the odds do the rest.
Do you play all three every draw, or stick to the main Lotto only?
Tell us in the comments …
The South African is the first to deliver Lotto results every Wednesday and Saturday evening’s. Check back at 21:00 for tonight’s results.