The Booster Ball is a 7th number drawn in every UK49s Lunchtime and Teatime draw, from the same 1–49 pool as the six main numbers.
It's drawn alongside the six main numbers in every single draw, and some bet types let you include it for extra prize tiers. Including it is entirely optional — this guide explains exactly how it works and how it fits into betting.
You must be 18 or older to bet. UK49s is offered in South Africa as fixed-odds betting through licensed local bookmakers — it is not run by the National Lottery. Free, confidential support: NRGP 0800 006 008 (24/7).
How the Booster Ball Works
Every UK49s draw — Lunchtime and Teatime alike — produces two things:
- Six main numbers, drawn from the 1–49 pool.
- One Booster Ball, a 7th number also drawn from the same 1–49 pool, separately from the six main numbers.
The Booster Ball is drawn as part of the same event as the main numbers — it isn't a separate draw at a different time. It exists to give bet types an additional element beyond the six main numbers, typically used for bet types that offer extra prize tiers or different odds structures.
Betting With or Without the Booster Ball
Whether to include the Booster Ball is up to you, and depends on the bet type you choose:
- Without the Booster Ball: you bet purely on how many of your chosen main numbers match the six drawn.
- With the Booster Ball: some bet types let you add it to your selection, which can affect the odds and potential payout for that specific bet, since matching the Booster Ball too is a rarer combined outcome.
Not every bookmaker or bet type offers a Booster Ball option, so check what's available on your chosen licensed platform. Including or excluding it doesn't make one approach inherently "better" — it's simply a different bet type with its own odds.
Lunchtime and Teatime Draws
Both daily UK49s draws include their own Booster Ball, drawn independently of one another:
- Lunchtime: drawn at 12:49 UK time — roughly 13:49 SAST today.
- Teatime: drawn at 17:49 UK time — roughly 18:49 SAST today.
The UK is currently on British Summer Time (one hour ahead of GMT), so the SAST gap is smaller than usual right now. The Lunchtime Booster Ball has no bearing on the Teatime Booster Ball later the same day — each draw, main numbers and Booster Ball alike, is entirely independent.
The Booster Ball doesn't change the random nature of the draw. Adding it to a bet doesn't make the draw itself any less random, and no method of choosing the Booster Ball — hot numbers, cold numbers, or otherwise — improves your chances of matching it.
Watch out for "guaranteed Booster Ball" scams. No number, including the Booster Ball, can be guaranteed in a random draw. If someone in a WhatsApp or Telegram group offers a "guaranteed" Booster Ball number for a fee, it's a scam.
Responsible Gambling
UK49s is entertainment, not an income strategy. Only bet money you can afford to lose, set a budget before you start, and never chase losses. If gambling stops feeling fun or starts to feel like a problem, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) on 0800 006 008, or at responsiblegambling.org.za.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Booster Ball is drawn from the same 1–49 pool as the six main numbers — it's simply an additional, 7th number drawn alongside them.
No. Including the Booster Ball is optional and depends on the bet type you choose. You can bet on the six main numbers alone, or add the Booster Ball if your bookmaker offers that option.
No. It doesn't change the random nature of the draw or make winning more likely — it simply adds an extra number to bet on, which typically affects the odds and potential payout of that specific bet type, not your underlying probability of a match.
The Booster Ball is drawn as part of the same draw as the six main numbers — so at 12:49 UK time (~13:49 SAST) for Lunchtime, and 17:49 UK time (~18:49 SAST) for Teatime.
No. Like the main numbers, the Booster Ball is drawn randomly and independently each time. Past frequency — whether a number has come up often or rarely as the Booster Ball — has no bearing on future draws.
Explore More UK49s Guides
Responsible Play Reminder: UK49s outcomes, including the Booster Ball, are random and independent for both Lunchtime and Teatime. No selection method improves your odds. Please play responsibly and only through licensed South African bookmakers. Must be 18+. Free support: NRGP 0800 006 008 (24/7).