Lottostar Explained: How It Works and Its Risks

Lottostar is a South African betting brand best known for letting customers bet on the results of lottery draws from around the world. Many people search for Lottostar to find out what it is, whether it is licensed and why it has been in court. The older version of this page read like an advert, with sections on registration, payment methods and promotions. We have replaced it with a neutral explainer on how the brand works, what its licence covers, the legal fight over lottery betting, South Africa’s gambling law and the risks to keep in mind. There are no links to any gambling site here.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Gambling law depends on where you live, so check your own local rules.

Quick Facts

Item	Detail
What Lottostar is	A licensed bookmaker in South Africa
Licensed by	Mpumalanga provincial gambling authority
Base	Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Known for	Bets on the results of lottery draws
Court case	High Court declared lottery result betting unlawful in 2021; appeal stayed in 2023
Help in South Africa	0800 006 008, free and open 24 hours

What Is Lottostar?

Lottostar is a bookmaker. A bookmaker takes bets on events at fixed odds and pays winners from its own money. Lottostar applies this to lottery draws. Instead of buying a ticket in a lottery, a customer places a bet on which numbers a draw will produce. If the numbers come up, Lottostar pays out at its own odds. The customer is not entering the lottery itself, and none of the money goes to the lottery’s prize pool or to the good causes that a national lottery funds.

The brand also offers bets on sports and some number games. It is popular in South Africa because it offers draws many times a day and low minimum stakes.

Is Lottostar Licensed?

Yes, as a bookmaker. The National Gambling Board’s Verified Operators list, last updated on 19 October 2026, shows Lottostar as a bookmaker based at Riverside Office Park in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, under licence 9 2 1 09467. In South Africa gambling licences are issued by provincial authorities, and the National Gambling Board keeps the national list. Anyone checking an operator should look for the exact company name on that list rather than trust a logo on a website.

A licence is not the end of the story. The dispute is about whether a bookmaker licence allows betting on lottery results at all.

The Court Fight Over Lottery Betting

South Africa’s national lottery is run by a single operator under the Lotteries Act and overseen by the National Lotteries Commission. Ithuba Holdings, the operator at the time, and the Commission argued that bookmakers taking bets on lottery results were running an illegal parallel lottery.

• 2021 High Court ruling. On 30 August 2021 a Full Court of the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela, in the case of Ithuba Holdings against Lottostar, declared that betting on the outcome of lotteries is unlawful under the Lotteries Act and granted an interdict against Lottostar.
• 2023 appeal step. On 5 September 2023 the Supreme Court of Appeal did not decide the main question. It stayed the appeal so that provincial gambling authorities and other bookmakers could be told about the case and given the chance to join it.

We could not find a final ruling on the merits as of October 2026. Readers should treat the legal position of lottery result betting in South Africa as unsettled and contested.

Why the Lottery Side Objects

The national lottery passes a share of ticket sales to good causes such as sport, arts and charities. The Mail and Guardian reported that the national lottery gives about 27 percent to good causes, while bookmakers offering lottery bets paid tax of about 1.5 percent. The lottery side argues that money moving to bookmakers reduces funding for those causes. Bookmakers argue they hold valid licences and that provincial law allows them to take bets on events, including draws.

South Africa’s Gambling Law in Brief

• Online casinos. Illegal. The National Gambling Act 2004 does not allow interactive casino games such as online slots and roulette.
• Sports and horse racing bets. Legal, but only through bookmakers or totalisators licensed by a provincial licensing authority.
• National lottery. Run by one licensed operator under the Lotteries Act.
• Age limit. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over only.

Using an unlicensed offshore site is a risk to the player as well as the operator, since winnings from illegal gambling may not be recoverable.

The Odds Are Set by the Bookmaker

Because a bookmaker sets its own odds, the payout on a lottery result bet is always lower than the true chance of winning would suggest. That gap is the bookmaker’s margin, in the same way that a casino keeps a house edge. Over many bets, customers as a group lose money. Frequent draws make it easy to bet again and again in a short time, which raises the risk of losing track of spending.

Questions to Ask Before Betting on Any Draw

• Is the operator on the National Gambling Board list, under its exact name?
• Do I understand that the payout odds are lower than my real chance of winning?
• Have I set a limit for today, and will I stop when I reach it?
• Am I betting with money meant for food, rent, school fees or debts?

If any answer worries you, it is a good moment to pause and talk to someone you trust.

Why the Old Review Was Removed

The old post walked readers through registering an account, choosing a payment method and claiming promotions. Those sections were advertising for a gambling site, and the old page did not mention the court case or the risks. We removed every instruction, promotion and link, and kept the page factual.

Warning Signs of Betting Fraud

Popular brands are often copied by scammers. Watch for:

• Look alike websites or social media pages with slightly different names.
• Requests to pay into a personal bank account or by voucher sent to a stranger.
• “Guaranteed numbers” or “sure win” tips sold in chat groups.
• Withdrawals held until you pay a “fee” or “tax”.

In South Africa, report illegal gambling to the National Gambling Board on 010 003 3475.

Gambling Harm and Where to Get Help

Betting can become hard to control. Signs include chasing losses, borrowing to bet, hiding it from family and feeling restless when you try to stop. Help is free and confidential:

• South Africa: National Responsible Gambling Programme, 0800 006 008, open 24 hours; WhatsApp 076 675 0710; email [email protected].
• United Kingdom: GamCare, 0808 8020 133.
• United States: 1 800 GAMBLER.
• Australia: Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858.
• India: Tele MANAS mental health line, 14416, and the cybercrime helpline, 1930, for fraud.

For readers in India, our guide to betting and casino law in India explains the 2026 ban on online money games. See also our piece on why betting offers are not free money and our explainer on an offshore betting brand and the law.

Before trusting any betting brand, search the National Gambling Board list or your own regulator’s register for the exact company name.

Many banks now let customers block gambling payments from their app, which adds a useful pause before any deposit.

Setting a fixed amount for entertainment each month, and stopping when it is gone, is a simple way to keep betting in check.

Screenshots of terms, chats and payments can help if you later need to report a problem to the regulator or your bank.

Laws and court rulings change, so check official sources for the latest position before relying on any older article.

Keeping a simple diary of time and money spent can show patterns that are easy to miss in the moment.

If a friend or relative is struggling with betting debts, listening without judgement and pointing them to a help line is often the most useful first step.

What We Changed From the Old Post

The old post was a promotional review with registration steps, payment methods and promotions, and it did not mention the legal dispute. We removed all signup, payment and bonus details and every link to the operator. We added what Lottostar is, its listed licence, the 2021 High Court ruling and the 2023 appeal step, why the lottery side objects, South Africa’s gambling law, how bookmaker odds work, fraud warning signs and help lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lottostar legal?

It is licensed as a bookmaker in Mpumalanga. A 2021 High Court ruling said betting on lottery results is unlawful, and the appeal had not been finally decided when we checked.

Is betting on lottery results the same as playing the lottery?

No. You bet against the bookmaker at its odds. Your money does not go to the lottery prize pool or its good causes.

Can people in India use Lottostar?

Lottostar is a South African bookmaker. India has banned online money games since 1 May 2026.

Where can I get help with gambling in South Africa?

Call 0800 006 008, free and open 24 hours, or use the WhatsApp line listed above.