How Much Do You Win for 3 Numbers in Lotto 6/45?

1. Quick Clarification: SA Lotto Is 6/52, Not 6/45

To be direct about it: there is no "Lotto 6/45" in South Africa. The main SA Lotto game, run by Ithuba as part of the National Lottery, uses a 6-from-52 format — you choose 6 numbers from a pool of 1 to 52, plus a Bonus Ball drawn from the remaining pool.

If you're specifically interested in a 6/45 format lottery, that's a different matrix used by some international lotteries, not an SA product. We cover both below so you have the accurate picture either way.

2. Why This Mix-Up Happens

This kind of confusion is common and understandable. A few likely reasons:

• Many countries run their own national lottery under the same generic name "Lotto," but with different number matrices — 6/45, 6/49, and 6/52 all exist internationally.
• General lottery content online sometimes discusses "6/45" as a common lottery format without specifying which country it applies to.
• Searchers may simply assume South Africa's game uses the same format as one they've seen referenced elsewhere.

Whatever the reason, it's a good opportunity to set the record straight: SA Lotto is 6/52.

3. SA Lotto's Actual Format Explained

• Matrix: 6 numbers from a pool of 1–52, plus a Bonus Ball drawn from the remaining pool.
• Ticket price: R5.00 per board.
• Draw days: every Wednesday and Saturday.
• Add-on games: Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2, using the same six numbers in two further, separate draws.
• Jackpot odds: approximately 1 in 20,358,520.

4. How Much Do You Win for 3 Numbers in SA Lotto (Division 7)

Matching exactly 3 main numbers in SA Lotto wins Division 7. In the most recently confirmed draw (1 August 2026), Division 7 paid R0.00 per winning board. Lower divisions like this one are usually fixed rather than variable, but always confirm the current amount before relying on it.

The odds of matching exactly 3 numbers in SA Lotto are approximately 1 in 62 — one of the easiest tiers to win in the entire prize structure. For the full breakdown, see our dedicated guide, Is There a Prize for 3 Numbers in Lotto.

5. Full SA Lotto Prize Divisions

★ Division 7 — matching 3 numbers, the subject of this article — is highlighted above.

6. What Is a 6/45 Lottery Format? (International Context)

A "6/45" lottery is simply a game where you choose 6 numbers from a pool of 1 to 45. This format is used by some international lotteries — for example, South Korea's national Lotto uses a 6/45 matrix. It is not used by any South African National Lottery game.

Using standard lottery combinatorics, a 6/45 format produces 8,145,060 possible combinations, giving jackpot odds of approximately 1 in 8,145,060 — a smaller number pool than SA Lotto's 52, and therefore better jackpot odds in principle.

7. SA Lotto (6/52) vs a 6/45 Format – Side-by-Side

A smaller number pool (45 versus 52) produces fewer total combinations, which is why a 6/45 format's jackpot odds look mathematically better than SA Lotto's — but this isn't a game South Africans can actually play through Ithuba.

8. Odds of Matching 3 Numbers: 6/52 vs 6/45

Interestingly, the gap between the two formats is much smaller for the 3-number tier than for the jackpot — matching just 3 numbers is a relatively easy tier to win in either format.

9. Practical Takeaways for SA Players

• If you're playing in South Africa, the only main Lotto format available is 6/52 — there's no 6/45 option to choose.
• Matching 3 numbers in SA Lotto wins Division 7, a small but genuine fixed prize.
• For the full picture of every prize tier, see our Lotto Payouts page.
• If you're comparing international lotteries generally, always confirm a specific game's actual rules with its official operator rather than assuming a generic 6/45 calculation applies exactly.

10. Frequently Asked Questions