South Africa Powerball Jackpot Hits Record R150 Million

The South Africa Powerball jackpot has shot past the previous record for the game’s largest prize, soaring to R150 million following another rollover on Tuesday night. The biggest SA Powerball draw of all time will now take place this Friday, when players will also have a chance to win R50 million in Powerball Plus.

How Has The Jackpot Got So Big?

The jackpot has been building since 23rd November, and there have now been 19 draws without a winner. As time has passed it has started to grow more quickly, having gone from R110 million last Friday to Tuesday’s figure of R122 million. There are expected to be even more ticket sales over the next few days as fans of the game dream of winning the record amount.

How Close Has Anyone Come To Winning?

A number of players have come tantalisingly close to winning the jackpot before the new record was set. In Tuesday’s draw, nine ticket holders matched all five main numbers - just missing out on the Powerball - to win R97,954 each. You can go to the South Africa Powerball Results page to see all the latest winning numbers and prize breakdowns.

What Was The Old Record?

The previous record for the highest jackpot was R145 million, which was set just a few months ago in August 2018. A man from Secunda in Mpumalanga was revealed to be the owner of the only winning ticket, having bought his entry at a store in Evander, and he kept it in a sock for safekeeping until he came forward. The winner, a 34-year-old engineer, said he would invest his money and help his loved ones.

What About PowerBall Plus?

PowerBall Plus is also at one of its largest values since the supplementary game was launched in December 2015, falling just short of the R58 million won by a player from KwaZulu Natal in April 2017. PowerBall Plus has not been won since 27th November.

Are Big Jackpots Becoming More Common?

Big jackpots are expected to keep occurring on a regular basis, after a change was made last June which lengthened the odds of winning the top prize. The number of main balls was increased from 45 to 50, with the pool of Powerball numbers staying at 20.

How Do You Play And Win?

To play Powerball in South Africa, you must select five main numbers from 1 to 50 and one Powerball between 1 and 20. You can choose your own numbers or opt for a Quick Pick, and you can also decide to play Powerball Plus for a small additional fee. Your numbers will then be entered into a second draw, giving you another opportunity to win prizes.

You can play by visiting an authorised retailer in South Africa, while you can also take part online from around the world. It remains to be seen whether the jackpot will be won on Friday or whether the new record will continue to soar, so keep up to date on Lotto.net.