More than R174m in Lotto and PowerBall jackpots remain unclaimed

Ithuba says more than R174 million in Lotto and PowerBall prizes are still waiting to be claimed. The national lottery operator is urging players to check tickets and make claims before tickets expire.

Which prizes are unclaimed

Ithuba has reported that more than R174 million remains unclaimed, the Citizen reported. Players are being reminded to check their tickets and claim any prizes within the specified timeframes.

Deadlines and where the money goes

Players have 365 days from the draw date to claim winnings. After that period, unclaimed funds are transferred to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund to support community projects.

How to claim winnings

Ithuba outlines a tiered claiming process:

• Physical tickets: prizes up to R2,000 can be claimed at participating retailers; some retailers are authorised to pay up to R10,000.
• Winnings over R10,000 must be claimed at an Ithuba regional office or the Ithuba head office.
• Online ticket buyers: amounts up to R250,000 are paid automatically into players’ accounts; larger prizes require a visit to Ithuba offices.
• All winners should validate tickets through retailers or Ithuba channels and submit required ID and documentation; larger prizes require contacting Ithuba to arrange payment.

Support for big winners

Ithuba provides free financial and trauma counselling to winners with earnings over R50,000. Ithuba emphasises that lottery winnings are tax-free.

Ithuba message to players

In response to a recent jackpot win, Ithuba CEO Charmain Mabuza said,

“Dreams do come true!”

Ithuba continues to remind players to check their tickets and claim any prizes before the 365-day deadline. Players with winning tickets are advised to validate them promptly through authorised retailers or Ithuba channels to begin the claims process.

Editor’s note: Earlier versions of this article incorrectly stated that a recent R32 million Lotto Plus 1 jackpot was part of the unclaimed total. This has been corrected.