On March 2, 2000 the first LOTTO ticket was purchased by Sipoyo-Moahloli at Yeye Butchery in Langa, Cape Town, in the presence of President Thabo Mbeki,” says Shenanda Janse van Rensburg, Uthingo spokesperson. “Since then, 3,6 billion LOTTO entries at a cost R2,50 each have been sold, making LOTTO undoubtedly the biggest game in South Africa.”

The game has produced 478 millionaires and millions more have shared in prize money of more than R9,1 billion. The biggest winner to date pocketed a R30 million jackpot prize in March 2004. But it was not only players who matched winning numbers on Wednesdays and Saturdays that have benefited from participating in LOTTO since its inception. Recent reports by the National Lottery Board confirmed that R3 billion has been paid out to more than 6100 Good Cause organisations in South Africa thus far.

“The National Lottery has proved itself an invaluable asset to South Africa. No other organisation has managed to raise so much money for social upliftment and development in South Africa in such a short space of time,” adds Janse van Rensburg who also says that Uthingo would like to acknowledge the real heroes behind the National Lottery’s successes: the players.

“The National Lottery cannot exist without the millions of players who purchase LOTTO and Scratchcard tickets. We would like to use this opportunity to thank the millions of players who have made it possible for the National Lottery to continue operating and raising funds for a better South Africa.”