R43 million on the line: How does tonight’s PowerBall draw work?

Tonight could be the night that changes everything for one lucky South African, and there’s still time to get your numbers in before the draw goes live.

HOW MUCH IS UP FOR GRABS

Tuesday’s PowerBall jackpot has climbed to R43 million, up from the R36 million guaranteed after nobody matched all five main numbers plus the PowerBall in Friday’s draw.

PowerBall XTRA adds a further R10 million on top, meaning there’s a combined pot worth checking your numbers against tonight.

HOW THE DRAW WORKS

PowerBall is played by selecting five numbers from 1 to 50, plus one additional PowerBall number from 1 to 16.

To win the jackpot, you need to match all five main numbers and the PowerBall exactly.

There are eight further prize divisions for partial matches, so even a few correct numbers could still land you a payout.

HOW TO PLAY

A standard PowerBall board costs R10.

There’s an optional R5 add-on per board if you want to enter the PowerBall XTRA draw.

It gives you a second shot at winning with the same numbers.

You can select your own numbers or ask for a Quick Pick at the till, letting the terminal choose randomly for you.

Tickets are available at any authorised National Lottery retailer, as well as through the official National Lottery website and select banking apps.

WHEN YOU NEED TO BUY BY

Ticket sales close at 20:40 on draw night, confirmed directly by the National Lottery, so make sure you’re in before the cutoff if you want your numbers in the mix.

Winning numbers are published from 21:00.

WHERE TO WATCH

The draw takes place at 21:00 and is broadcast live on e.tv and SABC.

So you can watch your numbers come up in real time.

IF YOU WIN

Prizes under R50,000 can generally be claimed at any authorised retailer.

For anything above that threshold, you’ll need to visit a Sizekhaya regional office in person with your original ticket and a valid South African ID.

Winners of digital prizes above R249,000 are notified within 24 hours and must also visit a regional office to complete the claims process.

Whatever you win, keep that ticket safe.

You have 365 days from the draw date to claim, and after that, the prize is forfeited entirely.

I always keep an eye on these draws for work, and even after everything I’ve covered, there’s still something exciting about watching those numbers drop live, hey.