R75 million up for grabs as PowerBall rolls over again

South Africans love a good rollover story and this week, the numbers are doing the talking.

After yet another draw without a jackpot winner, the PowerBall and PowerBall Plus for Friday, 20 February 2026, have climbed to a combined R75 million. That’s R50 million sitting in the PowerBall pot and R25 million in PowerBall Plus.

Seven consecutive rollovers have pushed the jackpot to this eye-watering total. If you’ve been waiting for a “big one” to try your luck, this is it.

But before you start planning your island purchase, here’s what you need to know.

A look back: Tuesday’s winless draw

The previous draw earlier this week came and went without a jackpot winner, setting the stage for Friday’s surge.

Here were the numbers from Tuesday, 17 February 2026:

PowerBall:
05, 15, 23, 24, 42
PowerBall: 05

PowerBall Plus:
23, 24, 30, 41, 43
PowerBall: 05

No one matched all the required numbers, which means Friday’s draw is officially the seventh rollover in a row.

On social media, the reaction has been predictable, memes about “manifesting millions,” jokes about quitting jobs, and the usual “this time it’s mine” bravado. South Africans may tease the odds, but when jackpots balloon like this, tickets fly.

The odds: Let’s talk reality

It’s easy to think that playing more improves your chances. It doesn’t.

Each draw is an independent event. Whether you’ve been playing for decades or this is your first R5 board, your odds remain exactly the same.

To play PowerBall, you select:

• Five numbers from 1 to 50

• One PowerBall number from 1 to 20

It costs R5 per board, with R2.50 extra for PowerBall Plus.

Your odds of hitting the jackpot? 1 in 42,375,200.

For comparison, the average PowerBall jackpot payout sits around R22 million. So this week’s R75 million is well above the norm.

Meanwhile, the Lotto jackpot, with slightly better odds at 1 in 40,475,358, averages around R5.95 million. Which makes last weekend’s R12.5 million Lotto Plus 2 win by a KwaZulu-Natal grandfather particularly striking.

A reminder: Ordinary lives, extraordinary wins

The National Lottery operator, ITHUBA, recently revealed that a pensioner from KZN won R12.5 million on a R20 Quick Pick ticket. His reason for playing? He wanted to help support his ten grandchildren.

Stories like that are why people keep lining up. For some, it’s a dream of early retirement. For others, it’s school fees, bond repayments or simply breathing room in a tough economy.

South Africa’s lottery draws take place 104 times a year for each game. That’s 104 chances annually for someone’s life to shift overnight.

Of course, not every draw produces a headline-grabbing win. Just three weeks ago, after 24 consecutive rollovers, a young couple walked away with R179 million, the second-highest PowerBall payout ever, behind the R232 million record set in February 2019.

When the jackpot grows, so does the anticipation.

If you win, here’s what happens next

Let’s say lightning strikes.

If you win, you must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Have a valid proof of identity

• Present your winning ticket (or digital confirmation)

• Hold a South African bank account

• Claim within 365 days

Payouts work like this:

• Retail stores pay up to R2,000

• R10,000 to R49,999 must be claimed at an Approved Prize Payment Centre

• R49,999 to R249,999 is paid via EFT at participating banks

• Anything above R250,000 requires a visit to an ITHUBA office

It’s not as simple as walking into your corner shop for R75 million, but it’s manageable, if you’re lucky enough.

How to enter Friday’s draw

Tickets for PowerBall and PowerBall Plus are available until 20:30 on Friday, 20 February 2026. The official draw takes place at 21:00.

You can:

• Buy tickets in-store at participating retailers

• Use the National Lottery website

• Download the mobile app

• Dial 1207529# and follow the USSD prompts

And if choosing numbers stresses you out? Go for a Quick Pick and let the machine decide.

Big dreams, small investment

For R7.50 (PowerBall plus Plus), you’re buying more than numbers. You’re buying possibility.

Just remember: the lottery is a game of chance, not a financial strategy. Play responsibly. Dream boldly. But keep your day job, at least until those six numbers line up.

Friday’s R75 million jackpot is waiting.

Whether it’s you or someone else who wakes up richer on Saturday morning, one thing is certain: South Africa will be watching.

{Source: The South African}

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