South Africa Lotto 5 Max FAQs

Want to win big on South Africa Lotto 5 Max? Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting supplemental draw. When you’re ready to play, head over to our Tickets page to get involved!

Question: What is South Africa Lotto 5 Max?

Answer: Lotto 5 Max is a supplementary game that can only be played alongside Lotto and Lotto Plus 1. It offers another chance for players’ tickets to win them prizes.

Question: When are South Africa Lotto 5 Max draws held?

Answer: Lotto 5 Max is drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:56pm local time.

Question: Can I play South Africa Lotto 5 Max without buying a regular Lotto ticket?

Answer: To play Lotto 5 Max, you must also enter Lotto and Lotto Plus 1.

Question: When is the cut-off time for South Africa Lotto 5 Max ticket sales?

Answer: You must have made your Lotto 5 Max purchase by 8:30pm on the day of a draw.

Question: How do I win a South Africa Lotto 5 Max prize?

Answer: To win a prize, you will need to either match 2 main numbers plus the Bonus Number (wins R15) or match 3 main numbers (wins R10). Match even more numbers to win bigger prizes!

Question: When do South Africa Lotto 5 Max prizes expire?

Answer: Lotto 5 Max prizes expire 365 days following the winning draw.

Question: Is there a minimum age to play South Africa Lotto 5 Max?

Answer: You must be 18 to take part in Lotto 5 Max.

Question: Will I pay tax on my South Africa Lotto 5 Max winnings?

Answer: South African lottery prizes are tax free, although some experts advise you should still declare a big win to the authorities.

Question: What odds are there on winning a South Africa Lotto 5 Max prize?

Answer: You have a 1 in 38 chance of winning any Lotto 5 Max prize and a 1 in 20,358,520 chance of winning the jackpot.

Question: What is the minimum South Africa Lotto 5 Max jackpot?

Answer: There is no minimum South Africa Plus 2 jackpot, but a guaranteed 45% of the prize pool of each draw funds the top award.

Question: When will the next South Africa Lotto 5 Max draw take place?

Answer: The next South Africa Lotto 5 Max draw will take place on Saturday 20th June 2026 .

Question: How much is the current South Africa Lotto 5 Max jackpot?

Answer: The current South Africa Lotto 5 Max jackpot stands at R500,000.

Question: How much does a South Africa Lotto 5 Max ticket cost?

Answer: : Lotto 5 Max tickets cost an additional R2.50 on top of the R5 Lotto and R2.50 Lotto Plus 1 price.

Question: What is the Lotto 5 Max Jackpot Cascade?

Answer: : In Lotto 5 Max, the jackpot does not always roll up until it is won. If no players win the jackpot on the last draw of each calendar month, all the money in the top prize pool is rolled down to the winners in Division 2, or Division 3 if there are no tier-2 winners either. This is called the 'Jackpot Cascade' and only happens for Lotto 5 Max, not Lotto or Lotto Plus 1.

Question: Was Lotto 5 Max Previously Known by Another Name?

Answer: : Yes – the game used to be called 'Lotto Plus 2', but when Sizekhaya took over from Ithuba as national lottery operator, they changed it to 'Lotto 5 Max'.