Why Is UK 49's So Popular In South Africa? And How To Bet.

Some time around the start of the 21st century, a new phenomenon hit the gaming world.

The 49’s numbers game.

Read on if you want to hear about the fun and excitement this game can bring. But why exactly does this game draw such an immense following?

Let’s go behind the scenes on all things 49’s.

49’s—A Global and Local Phenomenon

Today you’ll hear the term in a number of countries, but it all started in the UK. As a daily game, 49’s gave UK locals a chance to play numbers on any day of the week, becoming a household name very quickly.

And then the rest of the world caught wind of this exciting numbers game. Especially South Africans have made it a favourite lotto bet. And the popularity is only growing.

How Popular is it Really?

Don’t take our word for it. Look at the numbers to clearly see proof of this game being one that trumps many others in South Africa. Some will say it’s even more popular in SA than it is ‘back home’ in the UK.

For example, while there are seven outlets you can use to bet on 49’s in the UK, South Africa has a total of 17 (at the time of writing). Simply on the rule of ‘supply and demand’ it’s clear there’s enough activity relating to 49’s to keep many bookmakers busy.

8 Reasons for its Popularity—And Why You Should Try it Too

Now, why exactly is there so much going on with just this one game? Here are some advantages and attractions that players often mention.

Which of these suits your play preferences?

Freedom of Choice

The fact that there are so many bookmakers offering 49’s to South Africans gives locals a lot of flexibility. Take your time and compare the various vendors’ payouts and odds. Do your homework and you can optimise your returns if you win.

Even how you bet offers a lot of options. Do you want to bet on details of the draw, such as whether the numbers will all be odd? What about guessing the colour of one of the balls or what all the balls’ number values add up to? So many options to keep the game fun and use your bet money as you see fit.

Consider the Cost

In this category, of course the fact that it doesn’t cost much to place a bet is a major drawcard.

But there’s more to it; Compared to regular, traditional lottery plays, players find 49’s numbers betting much more flexible in terms of cost. While you’re still getting used to the game—or if your budget is tight this month—settle on the low minimum betting amounts. Only increase your bets to levels that you enjoy and can afford to lose.

And that’s another advantage in terms of cost: even if you pay relatively low betting amounts, there’s always a chance of a win.

The Payouts—Of Course

And don’t underestimate the prizes. Although it’s a very affordable betting game to try, you might just get sizeable prize money if your lucky numbers work in your favour. See our best odds page to see how much you can win.

The Draw Times

Here’s one of the fun aspects of the game. Why wait all week for just one draw or perhaps two as is the case with SA’s National Lottery? With 49’s there are two draws EVERY DAY. That offers loads of excitement throughout the week.

Number of Bookmakers and Their Bonus Offers

We’ve already mentioned the benefit of so many bookmakers to choose from. Now, remember bookmakers usually offer beneficial bonus options to attract players. Simply just joining often gets you free bets. You can try out all the bookmakers in SA, and it won’t be a waste of time since most of them will welcome you with a sign up bonus. After giving them all a try, pick your favourite.

Accessibility and Tracking Draw Results

In South Africa you’re lucky enough to be able to bet on the draws, so effectively you can take part in an international event. There’s a lunchtime and a teatime draw. Currently, South Africans can’t watch the draws but you can get the results the second they’re out on our Latest Results page. So, you can keep an eye on whether you’ve won with very little effort.

Presenters

Here’s another feature that keeps the draws interesting: the friendly hosts. For each draw there are fun presenters. They’ll ensure you know what’s happening in the draw.

The Draw—How Does it Work?

49’s is a simple game to catch on to:

• There are balls numbered from 1 to 49.
• During the draw, 5 main balls + 1 booster/bonus ball are selected.
• Guess the numbers of the draw—you can wager one number up to six number for a bet. You can also bet on other outcomes, such as the nature of the numbers (odd or even) or the sum of the numbers on the balls.
• Place your bet and confirm your bet slip.
• Wait for the draw results and see how much you’ve won.

List of SA Bookmakers that Offer 49s

Ready to bet? Here are some bookmakers to try out in SA:

• Bet.co.za
• Betolimp
• Betfred
• Betway
• GBets
• Hollywood Bets
• Interbet
• LM Bookmaker
• Morrisvee
• Supanumbers
• Scorebet
• World Sports Betting
• Yesplay

It’s clear: if you haven’t tried 49s yet, it could be a great time to give it a go. There are multiple reasons why this fun game travelled all the way from the UK to SA shores. And because it’s such as simple game to join in, it’s a great option for people less familiar with online betting.