South Africa’s Powerball ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ numbers

An analysis has identified South Africa’s most and least frequently drawn Powerball numbers using historical draw data from 2009–2026.

Apr 17, 2026 - 14:25

South Africa’s Powerball ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ numbers

With the PowerBall and PowerBall Plus jackpot for this weekend now surpassing the R100 million mark, the big question remains: is it better to trust pure luck, or follow the numbers?

The PowerBall jackpot is estimated at R37 million for Friday 17 April, while the PowerBall Plus has rolled over to a guaranteed R68 million.

A new report from Casino.org has now analysed historical South African lottery draw data to uncover the nation’s “hot” and “cold” numbers.

By examining long-term frequency trends, the report highlights which numbers have appeared most often (and which have lagged behind) offering a fresh perspective on how players engage with the game.

Most Frequently Drawn Lottery Numbers in South Africa’s Powerball

Exploring Potential Ticket Strategies

Although each lottery draw is independent, historical data can shape how some players choose their numbers. Based on the findings, two common approaches emerge:

1. The “Frequency-Based” Approach
For players drawn to data trends, one strategy is to focus on the most frequently drawn numbers over time — the so-called “hot” numbers:

The Numbers: 15 – 24 – 20 – 13 – 31
The Context: Number 15 leads the pack with 210 appearances, followed by 24 (200) and 20 (199). These numbers have consistently appeared more often than others, making them stand out in the dataset.

2. The “High-Number Spread” Approach
Many players tend to choose numbers between 1 and 31, often based on birthdays. This creates an opportunity to explore higher numbers that may be selected less frequently by other players:

The Numbers: 35 – 43 – 42 – 40 – 28
The Context: These numbers all show strong historical performance, with several appearing close to or above 185 times. As they sit outside typical “birthday picks,” they may offer a way to avoid splitting jackpots with multiple winners.

Observations on the “Cold” Numbers

At the other end of the spectrum, the data highlights numbers that have appeared less frequently over time. While they hold the same odds in any given draw, their historical presence is notably lower:

Number 47: The least frequent, with 76 appearances
Number 50: Appearing 83 times
Number 46: Appearing 85 times
Number 48: Appearing 86 times
Number 49: Appearing 96 times

The table below show the hottest and coldest numbers by draw frequency (2009–2026):

No.	Frequency of Number Drawn
15	210
24	200
20	199
13	197
31	196
43	192
35	192
12	191
22	188
18	188
9	187
3	187
42	186
40	186
28	186
36	185
21	185
11	185
41	183
10	183
8	183
16	182
37	181
19	181
38	179
34	178
7	178
29	177
5	177
44	175
32	175
23	175
4	175
17	173
6	173
1	173
26	171
45	170
30	168
39	165
14	165
2	165
25	164
33	159
27	156
49	96
48	86
46	85
50	83
47	76

Probability vs Luck

While number 15 has appeared nearly three times as often as number 47, the core principle of the lottery remains unchanged: every draw is random.

These trends offer an engaging way to explore the history of South Africa’s Powerball, but they do not influence future outcomes. Whether selecting “hot,” “cold,” or completely random numbers, each combination has the same chance of being drawn.

The table below show the hottest and coldest Powerball numbers by draw frequency (2009–2026):