Coronavirus Forces Lottery To Suspend Sportstake Games

Coronavirus Forces Lottery To Suspend Sportstake Games
Updated: Monday 10th August 2020

Update 10 August: Sportstake is back! Both Sportstake 8 and Sportstake 13 are available to play online and in stores after their temporary absence. Go to the Sportstake Results page to see the latest fixtures.

After the coronavirus pandemic decimated soccer schedules around the world, Ithuba has been left with no choice but to suspend both Sportstake 8 and Sportstake 13. Find out more about the suspension and the best way to keep playing other lotteries in South Africa.

No Date Given For Sportstake Resumption

The aim of the game in Sportstake is to predict the outcome of soccer matches. A list of fixtures is published and you have to say whether you think the winner will be the home team or the away team, or whether it will be a draw.

Sportstake 13 requires you to predict what will happen in 13 games, while in Sportstake 8 you have to make a prediction on both the first-half outcome and the second-half outcome of eight games. Go to the Sportstake page to learn more about how they both work.

The fixtures are taken from leagues all over the planet, primarily major European competitions, but games are not currently taking place due to the global outbreak of Covid-19. Football has been suspended almost everywhere as countries have imposed restrictions to limit social contact. These measures include banning mass gatherings and asking people to stay at home.

Sportstake fixtures had previously been announced for games up to 20th March, but so many recent soccer matches have been cancelled that the game has become unviable. Games will therefore be unavailable until further notice.

No date has been given for when sales will resume, as it will depend on when soccer leagues start up again.

How to Play Other Games During the Outbreak

All other lottery games in South Africa are scheduled to continue as scheduled despite the pandemic. Tickets remain on sale from retailers, but with some restrictions already in place to keep people apart and other measures potentially on the horizon, the safest way to play is online.

There is no need to go outdoors and queue with others at retailers when you play online, so it is a much easier and healthier option at the current time. There are other benefits too, such as the security of knowing that your numbers cannot get lost or damaged.

If you win a prize online, you will be alerted straight away so you will not miss out on your money. If you have played in a store, you will have to take your ticket to a retailer or a payment centre. With 365 days to claim prizes, you may prefer to wait until restrictions have been lifted.

Go to the Lottery Tickets page to find your favourite game and play in the next draw.

Published: Friday 20th March 2020

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