PowerBall Plus and PowerBall Xtra are the same game.
The name changed when Sizekhaya Holdings took over the National Lottery on 1 June 2026, ending Ithuba Holdings’ 11-year run.
If you played PowerBall Plus before June 2026, you were already playing what is now called PowerBall Xtra.
Short answer: PowerBall Plus and PowerBall Xtra are the same game. The name and price changed when Sizekhaya Holdings took over the National Lottery. PowerBall now costs R10 per line, and PowerBall Xtra costs an additional R5.
What changed
| Feature | PowerBall Plus (Ithuba) | PowerBall Xtra (Sizekhaya) |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Ithuba Holdings | Sizekhaya Holdings |
| Name | PowerBall Plus | PowerBall Xtra |
| PowerBall Price | R5 per board | R10 per line |
| Extra Draw Price | R2.50 | R5 |
| Number Range | 5 from 1–50 + PB from 1–20 | 5 from 1–50 + PB from 1–16 |
| Draw Days | Tuesday and Friday | Tuesday and Friday |
The number range for the PowerBall itself dropped from 1–20 to 1–16, which slightly improves your odds of matching it.
The Lotto ball range was also reduced from 58 to 52 to improve overall winning odds by roughly 30%.
Why the change happened
Sizekhaya Holdings was appointed as the fourth National Lottery operator and took over on 1 June 2026 under an eight-year licence.
The rebrand from PowerBall Plus to PowerBall Xtra was part of the handover.
The price increase from R5 to R10 for PowerBall, and from R2.50 to R5 for the add-on, reflects the new operator’s pricing structure.
How to play PowerBall and PowerBall Xtra now in South Africa
PowerBall: Pick five numbers from 1 to 50, plus one PowerBall number from 1 to 16. A board costs R10.
PowerBall Xtra: Add it to your PowerBall entry for an extra R5. The same numbers go into a completely separate draw held straight after the main one.
You can only play Xtra if you have a valid PowerBall entry for the same draw date.
Where to buy: Authorised retailers, the National Lottery website, the mobile app, participating banking apps, and USSD.
Over 5,500 new lottery terminals have been deployed, integrated with roughly 8 major banks.
Live draws have also returned to SABC 1 and SABC 2 at 9pm for transparency.
Ticket sales close at 8.30pm on draw nights (with an earlier 8.25pm cut-off for Capitec and Nedbank app users).
The new cascading jackpot rule
Under Sizekhaya, PowerBall Xtra uses a “cascading jackpot” system.
If there is no Division 1 winner after three consecutive rollovers, the jackpot cascades down to the next winning division instead of rolling over again.
This guarantees a payout rather than letting the jackpot grow indefinitely.
Additionally, the new operator mandates free, confidential psychological counselling and financial planning for winners of R50,000 or more to assist with long-term wealth creation.
Notable National Lottery winners under the new operator, Sizekhaya Holdings
Since taking over, Sizekhaya has distributed over R1.07 billion in prizes across more than 12.1 million winning tickets.
Around 60% of ticket sales are now driven via banking apps and digital platforms.
Major wins include:
- R128 million PowerBall: Won by an unemployed KwaZulu-Natal (Ndwedwe) resident just three days after launch on June 2, 2026.
- R112 million PowerBall: Won by a female player.
- R93.5 million PowerBall: Won by a player in Soweto.
- R69.5 million PowerBall: Won via a ticket bought at Pick n Pay Auckland Park.
- R45.7 million PowerBall Plus cascade: Split between three winners.
- R65 million+: Won by a Capitec app player.
While the new operator has already created several new millionaires, the all-time record for the biggest PowerBall win in South Africa still belongs to a historic 2019 draw.
Read about the R232,131,750 record 2019 win and other historic South African lottery winners.
What happened to old PowerBall Plus tickets
Old PowerBall Plus tickets remain valid for the draw they were purchased for.
If you have an unclaimed ticket from the Ithuba era, contact the National Lottery or consult the Participants Code of Practice for claim rules.
All tickets must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date.
ALSO READ: Find out exactly what happens to unclaimed lottery money in South Africa.
Official contact details and regional offices
Sizekhaya Holdings officially assumed operations of the South African National Lottery on June 1, 2026. If you need to make a claim or query a prize, here are the active contact channels.
National Call Centre: 086 102 6000
General Support Email: info@sizekhaya.co.za
Sizekhaya regional office numbers
For in-person claims or to speak to a provincial team, contact your nearest office:
- Gauteng: 011 011 5000 / 068 628 3567
- Western Cape: 065 799 5000 / 069 040 8288
- KwaZulu-Natal: 069 047 3223 / 068 619 1516
- Eastern Cape: 068 905 9574 / 068 621 3568
- Free State & Northern Cape: 068 926 0074
- Limpopo: 065 751 7989 / 069 048 6881
- Mpumalanga: 065 754 0514 / 069 030 8218
- North West: 069 033 2904 / 069 032 0222
Claims from the Ithuba era
Even though the transition happened in mid-2026, the 365-day expiration rule is mandated across operators by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
Any winning ticket bought during the final year of Ithuba’s tenure remains valid until its specific 365-day window from the draw date closes.
If you encounter systemic friction processing an older prize, the regulatory National Lotteries Commission Support Line remains available at 0860 065 383.
Official links
- National Lottery Results Portal: www.nationallottery.co.za
- Participants Code of Practice: View the official PDF guidelines here.
Common questions
Is PowerBall Plus the same as PowerBall Xtra?
Yes. PowerBall Plus was renamed PowerBall Xtra when Sizekhaya took over in June 2026.
Why did the price change?
The new operator, Sizekhaya Holdings, adjusted pricing across all games. PowerBall moved from R5 to R10, and the Xtra add-on from R2.50 to R5.
Can I still play PowerBall Plus?
You play the same game, but it is now called PowerBall Xtra. Ask for “PowerBall Xtra” at the till or select it in your banking app.
Keep up with the results
Check our latest National Lottery results for the most recent PowerBall and PowerBall Xtra winning numbers and jackpot updates.
For information only. Participants must be 18 or older. Gamble responsibly.
