Theoretical Winnings shows what your returns could have been if you had bet R1 on this number combination for every draw over the selected period. More info
Hot & Cold for Other Lottos
Select your lottery below to view on our sister site (comparethelotto.com/za).
Top South African Offers
Hot & Cold Balls are based on the frequency that the ball has been drawn previously. These statistics include all draws: Brunchtime, Lunchtime, Drivetime, and Teatime. Statistically, any ball has just as much a chance of being drawn as any other ball.
Unsure how to choose your numbers? Lots of 49’s bettors like to pick either numbers that have been drawn the most frequently (hot numbers) recently or the least frequently recently (cold numbers). Statistically speaking, any number has an equal chance of being drawn as any other number, however, we all have that emotional feeling of just knowing that this week will be our lucky week.
Theoretical Winnings
Theoretical Winnings is showing what your returns could have been if you had bet on this number combination for the given time period. Returns are calculated in the following way:
- R1 stake on every available draw
- Total stake - Total returns. I.e. Your winnings after your initial stake has been subtracted
- Betting 'Without Bonus Ball'
- Odds based on table below
| Balls | Odds (With Bonus Ball) | Odds (Without Bonus Ball) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ball | 5/1 | 6/1 |
| 2 Balls | 45/1 | 66/1 |
| 3 Balls | 440/1 | 700/1 |
| 4 Balls | 5000/1 | 10000/1 |
| 5 Balls | 50000/1 | 160000/1 |
Hot & Cold Balls FAQs
What is a ‘Hot’ ball?
Hot balls are balls that have appeared the most frequently in recent draws. You can use our filters above to view hot balls for the past week, month or even year.
What is a ‘Cold’ Ball?
Cold balls are balls that have appeared the least frequently in recent draws. You can use our filters above to view hot balls for the past week, month or even year.
Are Hot Balls or Cold Balls More Likely to Win?
Every ball in each draw has an equal chance of being drawn. This means hot balls and cold balls are just as likely to be drawn. Users that decide to bet based on hot or cold don’t have any more chance of winning than picking random numbers.
How Else Can I Pick My Numbers?
There are a few options:
- ‘Quick Pick’: You select how many balls you want to bet on, then the bookmaker randomly selects numbers for you. Most bookmakers offer this functionality, or you can use our random number selector.
- Select Your Own: You can select your own balls, just by picking random numbers.
- Regular Numbers: Lottery players often have their numbers that they play each week until they win. The catch with this method is you feel obliged to play every single week for fear of missing the big win.
How Can I Increase My Chances of Winning?
It is not possible to increase your chance of winning. However, bookmakers offer different odds on the 49’s - this means you might be able to win more for the same bet depending on the bookmaker you select. Compare the 49’s odds of South African bookmakers here. Also, many bookmakers offer free bets - see our free bets page.
When Are The Hot & Cold Numbers Updated?
Immediately after the results for each draw. Check the latest results to see when this happens.
UK/IRE
ZA
UK & Ireland
South Africa