South African lotto in limbo as R175m jackpot faces an uncertain handover

Countdown to 1 June: a national game changes hands

The South African lotto is set to change operators on 1 June 2026, with ITHUBA’s contract ending and Sizekhaya Holdings due to take over. That handover comes while the PowerBall jackpot sits at a headline-grabbing R175 million, raising questions about what happens to an un-won prize during the transition.

Where the money stands

Friday 15 May’s PowerBall was reported at R175 million. The prize could grow further if it rolls over in the remaining draws this month. At the same time, the operator change is imminent, and players are watching closely.

Player accounts and digital wallets

The outgoing operator has said that all existing online accounts on ITHUBA and its mobile app will be closed on 31 May 2026. Players have been told to withdraw any remaining funds from their digital wallets before that date or risk losing access to them.

A messy handover, according to reporting

The transition from ITHUBA to Sizekhaya has been described as messy. ITHUBA initiated court action to stop Sizekhaya taking over, alleging irregularities in how the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition handled the bid process. The report says the judge dismissed the interdict, and the handover is proceeding.

Sizekhaya’s promise and transition risks

Sizekhaya has publicly promised bigger jackpots, more frequent wins and fewer rollovers. While those changes could be attractive to players, the reporting warns that new formats and reset jackpots bring transition risks including uncertainty about continuity of games and how an un-won, large jackpot would be handled at the operator change.

How other countries handled a handover

The article points to the UK as a comparison. When Allwyn replaced Camelot in February 2024, Allwyn acquired Camelot outright, which meant continuity of jackpots, games and player accounts. That example is presented as a contrast to the South African situation, where ownership and account continuity look less assured.

Questions for players

With the operator change a matter of weeks away and a nine-figure jackpot in play, the reporting asks whether players will continue to trust and play the national lotto under the new operator and whether the new format will win over or alienate regular players.

What you should do

• Note the operator change on 1 June 2026.
• If you have funds in an ITHUBA online account or digital wallet, withdraw them before 31 May 2026.
• Follow official communications from the operators and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for updates on how prizes and rollovers will be handled.