What Are the 9 Ways to Win PowerBall?
Most players know about the jackpot — but SA PowerBall actually has nine separate ways to win a prize, from matching all five main numbers plus the PowerBall, right down to matching the PowerBall alone. This guide breaks down every single division clearly, with the matching numbers, odds, and typical prizes for each.
1. Overview of the 9 Ways to Win PowerBall
SA PowerBall draws five main numbers from a pool of 1–50, plus one PowerBall from a separate pool of 1–20. Rather than only paying out for the full jackpot match, the game rewards nine different levels of matching, giving players many more realistic chances to win something.
- Divisions 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 require matching the PowerBall alongside a certain number of main numbers.
- Divisions 2, 4, and 6 are won with main numbers only, without the PowerBall.
- Division 9 is the simplest — matching only the PowerBall, with no main numbers required.
2. Detailed Breakdown of Each Prize Division
Here's the complete, official-style structure of all 9 PowerBall prize divisions:
| Division | Numbers Matched | Approx. Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 numbers + PowerBall | Approx. 1 in 42,375,200 |
| 2 | 5 numbers only | Approx. 1 in 2,231,326 |
| 3 | 4 numbers + PowerBall | Approx. 1 in 219,472 |
| 4 | 4 numbers only | Approx. 1 in 11,556 |
| 5 | 3 numbers + PowerBall | Approx. 1 in 3,738 |
| 6 | 3 numbers only | Approx. 1 in 197 |
| 7 | 2 numbers + PowerBall | Approx. 1 in 235 |
| 8 | 1 number + PowerBall | Approx. 1 in 96 |
| 9 | PowerBall only | Approx. 1 in 39 |
3. What Each Division Pays (Typical Prize Ranges)
| Division | Prize Type | Typical Range (Illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackpot — rolling, shared if multiple winners | Varies — can reach tens of millions of rand |
| 2 | Fixed high-value prize | Typically hundreds of thousands of rand (illustrative) |
| 3 | Mid-tier prize | Typically several thousand rand (illustrative) |
| 4 | Smaller fixed prize | Typically a few hundred rand (illustrative) |
| 5 | Smaller fixed prize | Typically under a hundred rand (illustrative) |
| 6 | Small fixed prize | Typically a small fixed amount (illustrative) |
| 7 | Small fixed prize | Typically a small fixed amount (illustrative) |
| 8 | Small fixed prize | Typically a small fixed amount (illustrative) |
| 9 | Smallest fixed prize | Typically a small fixed amount (illustrative) |
Only Division 1 works as a rolling, pari-mutuel-style prize — every other division (2 through 9) typically uses a fixed prize amount, meaning it stays roughly consistent between draws unless Ithuba formally updates the prize structure. For the specific breakdown of Division 9 alone, see our how much do you win if you just hit the PowerBall guide.
4. Odds of Winning Each Division
The lower-numbered divisions require matching more numbers, making them significantly harder to win — while the higher-numbered divisions (7, 8, 9) require far fewer matches and have much better odds.
- Division 1 requires all 5 main numbers plus the PowerBall — the longest odds by far.
- Division 9 requires only the PowerBall — the shortest odds of any division.
- Odds improve steadily as you move from Division 1 down to Division 9, reflecting how much easier each match combination is to achieve.
5. PowerBall vs PowerBall Plus Prize Differences
PowerBall Plus mirrors the same 9-division structure as the main game, using the same numbers you played on your main board, for an additional stake.
- PowerBall Plus has its own entirely separate prize pool and draw, calculated independently.
- The exact prize amounts per division can differ between PowerBall and PowerBall Plus.
- Winning a division on PowerBall doesn't guarantee winning the same division on PowerBall Plus, and vice versa — they're independent outcomes even though the numbers are identical.
For the full rules of both games, see our how to play PowerBall guide.
6. Real Examples from Recent Draws
Because exact prize amounts change over time and we can't guarantee any specific figure stays current, the best way to see genuine, up-to-date division results is to check a recent draw directly. Our PowerBall results page shows the confirmed prize amount for every division after each draw, letting you compare how Division 1's jackpot varies dramatically between draws while Divisions 2–9 stay comparatively steady.
7. How Prizes Are Shared When There Are Multiple Winners
| Scenario | Outcome |
|---|---|
| One Division 1 winner | That single winner receives the full jackpot |
| Two Division 1 winners | The jackpot is split equally between the two tickets |
| No Division 1 winner | The jackpot rolls over and grows for the next draw |
| Multiple winners in a fixed-prize division (e.g. Division 6) | Each winner typically still receives the full fixed amount, since it's not pooled the way the jackpot is — always confirm this with official sources for certainty |
The jackpot (Division 1) is the division most affected by multiple winners, since it's a shared pool. Lower, fixed-prize divisions are generally paid in full to each qualifying winner rather than being split — though it's always worth confirming this directly for absolute certainty on any specific draw.
8. Which Divisions Are Most Commonly Won
| Division | How Often It's Won |
|---|---|
| Division 9 (PowerBall only) | Most commonly won — happens in most draws |
| Division 8 (1 number + PowerBall) | Very common |
| Division 6 (3 numbers only) | Common |
| Division 4 (4 numbers only) | Occasional |
| Division 2 (5 numbers only) | Rare |
| Division 1 (Jackpot) | Rarest — but has been won multiple times since launch |
Because Division 9 has such favourable odds (roughly 1 in 39), it's genuinely common for at least some tickets to win it in almost any given draw — this is by design, ensuring plenty of small, frequent wins alongside the much rarer jackpot.
9. Tips for Understanding Your Ticket
- Check every division, not just the jackpot. A "non-jackpot" result can still be a genuine win on Division 4, 6, or 9.
- Compare your ticket carefully against the official result, confirming both main numbers and the PowerBall separately.
- Remember Divisions 2, 4, and 6 don't need the PowerBall — don't assume you've lost just because your PowerBall number didn't match.
- Use our PowerBall results page to see the exact confirmed prize for each division after any specific draw.
- Claim your prize promptly — see our what happens if I win the PowerBall guide for the full claim process by prize size.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Responsible Gambling
Knowing all 9 ways to win is genuinely useful information, not a reason to change how you play — the underlying odds of each division are fixed by the game's structure and don't change based on anything you do.
- Set a budget regardless of which divisions you're aiming for.
- Treat any division win, large or small, as a bonus.
- Never increase your stake chasing a specific division.
- You must be 18 or older to play PowerBall in South Africa.