Explainer: What separates SA’s three Lotto games Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max

South Africa’s Lotto ticket lists three games Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max but the numbers you pick and the odds stay the same across all three. Here’s a simple breakdown of how the games relate and what changes between them.

How the three games are linked

The three draws use the same six numbers that you select from 1 to 52. The main Lotto draw is the base game: a standard board costs R5 and requires matching all six numbers to win the jackpot.

What Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max do

Lotto Plus 1 enters the same six numbers into a separate draw for an additional R2.50. According to Sizekhaya’s game rules, only the entry fee changes and the odds remain identical to the main Lotto draw.

Lotto 5 Max operates the same way it uses your chosen six numbers in a third draw and also costs R2.50. The National Lottery describes Lotto 5 Max as having a guaranteed payout system that prevents the jackpot from rolling over indefinitely.

What actually changes between the draws

Nothing about your numbers or the odds changes between Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max. The odds of matching all six are 1 in 20 358 520 for each draw. The only differences are the prize pools and the entry costs for each draw.

Is it worth entering all three?

It depends on your budget and how many chances you want to buy. Entering Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max gives you two extra jackpots for an added cost, but it does not improve the mathematical odds for any individual draw. The choice is a personal one about how much extra you are willing to spend for additional independent chances to win.

What players do

According to The South African, most players tick all three without asking what differentiates them, or whether it’s worth the extra cost.

Where to check results

According to The South African, the outlet is the first to deliver Lotto results every Wednesday and Saturday evenings.