Lotto

Playing the South African lottery is easy. There are various options available each week, including the Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2. Photo: File

Powerball latest: Bizarre draw results in 20 jackpot winners on Tuesday

Imagine winning the Powerball when it’s a R114, rollover – only to be told you have to split the prize 20 ways. Tuesday’s draw has left players gobsmacked.

Lotto

Playing the South African lottery is easy. There are various options available each week, including the Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2. Photo: File

There is a lot of head-scratching going on this morning, as Powerball players wake up to the news that Tuesday’s R114 million jackpot will have to be shared by TWENTY separate winners. This is all due to the strange sequence of numbers that were drawn at random, but left participants in the competition dumbfounded.

Powerball draw numbers for Tuesday 1 December

The winning numbers for the Powerball draw on Tuesday 1 December were 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. As if that wasn’t spooky enough, the Powerball itself came out as 10. In what has proved to be one of the rarest events ever witnessed in a South African lottery competition, all six numbers were consecutive. Somebody forgot to give the machine a shake, clearly…

With many avid players left aghast at the simplistic selection, the National Lottery itself has Tweeted its own reaction to the draw. They played down the coincidental numbers, saying that ‘many players’ opt to choose such sequences:

“Congratulations to tonight’s twenty winners of Powerball draw. These numbers may be unexpected but we see many players opt to play these sequences. You could be one of these winners, so check your tickets now!”

National Lottery

What does each winner receive when split into 20?

Amongst this cohort of winners, one feels there are some conflicting emotions on the go right now: Promised a R114 million jackpot for matching all six numbers, these shrewd selectors now face the prospect of splitting their millions into multiple parts. Each person now “only” stands to win R5.68 million.

It’s a lovely bonus before Christmas, but not the historic Powerball win many will have been dreaming of. Nonetheless, we doubt any of these overnight millionaires will say no to a seven-figure war chest ahead of the festive season. Congratulations to all the winners – even if you did select some pretty weird numbers.