R124M Win Sparks Debate: Should Lotto & Powerball Go Back to Live Draws?

South Africans Question Digital Lotto and Powerball Draws

The buzz around South Africa’s Lotto and Powerball draws is heating up again. Earlier this week, an anonymous player scooped a whopping R124 million — but not without raising a few eyebrows. She admitted she had accidentally ignored a bank notification, prompting skepticism from the public.

Since 2015, when Ithuba took over the lottery licence under the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), the classic live draws we once loved have mostly vanished. Remember the glamorous Road To Riches shows with Amor Vittone and Nimrod Nkosi? Those days are gone. Today, winning numbers are chosen using a random number generator (RNG) system, with results broadcast digitally rather than live.

Ithuba insists that the process is secure. According to Michelle van Trotsenburg, Lotto and Powerball numbers are generated shortly before each scheduled broadcast, following a “rigorous pre-draw process to ensure accuracy and security.” An independent auditor oversees every step, and the draws are documented meticulously to meet global standards.

Digital draws dominate, but physical ball machines haven’t disappeared completely. They remain on standby in case the RNG fails. Still, this shift hasn’t quelled public debate. Many South Africans are calling for a return to traditional live draws on social media, arguing the digital system feels “rigged” or that winners might not even exist.

So, the big question remains: should Lotto and Powerball go back to live, televised draws — or is the digital age here to stay?

Exciting Highlights & Pointers:

• Anonymous R124 million win sparks debate.

• RNG system replaces classic live shows.

• Draws independently audited & verified.

• Physical ball machines only used as a backup.

• Public divided: digital vs. live draws.