Lottery guides
Plain-English guides to how lotteries actually work: the real odds of each game, how to claim a prize and what tax applies, and what to check before playing online or joining a syndicate. For the latest numbers, see our lottery results.
Odds and numbers
- What are the chances of winning the lottery?
How lottery odds are worked out, with 24 game formats ranked from easiest to hardest.
- Which lottery has the best odds?
The big games compared, from jackpot odds to the chance of winning anything at all.
- Can the same numbers come up twice?
Why repeat draws happen more often than people expect.
Winning, claiming and tax
- How to claim a lottery prize in South Africa
Retailer, payment centre or Sizekhaya office, banking-app wins, and the 365-day deadline.
- Tax on lottery winnings in South Africa
Why National Lottery prizes are tax-free, and when tax does apply.
- Tax on lottery winnings in Canada
How Canadian tax law treats lottery prizes.
- Is a EuroMillions jackpot taxable?
Whether you pay tax on a EuroMillions prize.
- Unclaimed lottery jackpots
The prizes nobody collected, and how to make sure yours isn’t one of them.
Playing online and in syndicates
- Buying lottery tickets online
How online lottery services work and what to check before you sign up.
- 5 online lottery red flags
The warning signs of a site to avoid.
- Online lotteries: questions answered
The common questions about playing online, answered plainly.
- UK lottery syndicates
How syndicates work, how prizes are shared, and how to set one up fairly.
- US Powerball for Canadians
What Canadian players need to know about the US game.
Game guides
- EuroMillions Superdraws
What a Superdraw is, when the next one is and how the boosted jackpot works.
- German Lotto 6aus49
How Germany’s national lottery works, including the Superzahl.
- Where to play
Where you can buy tickets for each game from where you live.