Betting on lucky numbers has become more than just a pastime in Africa, as it’s now part of daily excitement throughout the Africa. Among the many draws available, UK49s Lunchtime (often called UK49s Lunch) has gained huge popularity.

Every day, players eagerly wait for the midday draw, hoping their chosen numbers will bring them wins. Unlike traditional lotteries where you buy fixed tickets for shared jackpots, with lucky numbers you have more flexibility. You decide how many numbers to play, whether to include the bonus ball and how much to stake.

Take a look at the latest hot and cold numbers for Lunchtime 49s for the 14/01/2026.

Hot numbers: 48 40 24 13 38 47

Cold Numbers: 43 10 49 07 28 45

Our prediction for the Lunchtime 49s based on these hot and cold numbers is: 43 10 48

In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at UK49s Lunch.

A Short History of UK49s Lunch

The ‘49s’ game started in the United Kingdom in the 1990s shortly after the UK National Lottery was launched. It was designed as a bookmaker-style lottery where players could bet on numbers drawn from a pool of 1 to 49. Soon, two draws for this game were introduced each day – one at lunchtime (UK49s Lunch) and the other in the evening (UK49s Tea).

African bookmakers saw the appeal of this fast, flexible, and twice-daily lottery and quickly picked up on the format. By the early 2000s, UK49s Lunch was already being offered in South African betting markets followed by Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. Today, it is one of the most played lucky numbers games on the continent.

UK49s Lunch Timings

The UK49s Lunch draw takes place every day at 12:49 PM UK time. Because Africa covers several time zones, players see it at different local times:

• South Africa – 1:49 PM
• Nigeria & Ghana – 12:49 PM
• Kenya & Uganda – 2:49 PM
• Zimbabwe – 1:49 PM

Many bookmakers even show countdown timers on their website, so you know exactly how long is left before betting closes.

UK49s Lunch Explained

The rules of UK49s Lunch game are simple. Balls numbered 1 to 49 are placed in the draw machine. Then 6 main numbers are drawn randomly and then 1 bonus number (Booster Ball) is drawn afterwards. This makes a total of 7 numbers announced each day.

When betting, you choose how many numbers you want to play. Every UK49s lunch draw allows you to bet on a minimum of 1 number and a maximum of 6 numbers. If you choose to bet on multiple numbers, all such numbers must appear in the draw for you to win.

Playing with lesser numbers increases the winning outcome, however your winnings are lower. Betting on more numbers lowers the winning possibility but the winnings amount is higher. Your winning amount depends upon your stake and the bookmaker’s fixed-betting odds.

6-Number Game vs. 7-Number Game

African bookmakers usually let you choose between two versions of the UK49s Lunch:

• 6-number game: You only try to match the 6 main balls.
• 7-number game: You can also use the bonus ball to match your numbers.

The difference between the two versions is in winning odds and payouts. Playing with the bonus/booster ball (7-number game) gives you a slightly higher chance of winning since it gives you an extra ball to match your numbers, but your payout will be smaller compared to the 6-number game

How to Play UK49s Lunch

Here’s how UK49s Lunch game works:

1. Go for a licensed bookmaker

Sign-up via a licensed African bookmaker which is transparent about its betting odds. In South Africa, check for a bookmaker approved by the National Gambling Board. In Nigeria, look for operators registered with the NLRC.

• Pick your lucky numbers

Go to the ‘Lucky Numbers’ or ‘UK49’s’ section on the bookmakers website and select the Lunchtime draw. Then pick your numbers from 1 to 49 to place your bet.

• Choose your game type

Decide whether you want to play 6-ball or 7-ball. The bonus ball isn’t counted if you opt to play the 6-ball game.

• Set your stake

Decide how much money you want to risk on your bet. This is called your stake. The higher your stake, the bigger your payout. UK49’s works on a fixed-odds system. This means your winnings are always your stake multiplied by the bookmaker’s odds

• Side Bets

Apart from picking straight numbers, many African bookmakers also offer fun side bets:

• Odd/Even: Bet whether most winning numbers will be odd or even.
• High/Low: Predict if more numbers will be from the higher range (25-49) or lower range (1-24).
• Colour Balls: Some bookies group numbers by ball colours and let you bet on which colour will dominate.
• Single Number Bet: Wager on just one number appearing in the draw.
• Bonus Ball Bet: Predict whether the Booster Ball will be high, low, odd, or even.

• Check the draw results

The draw takes place at 12:49 PM UK time (afternoon in most African countries) and results are posted online within minutes.

Odds of Winning in UK49s Lunch

The odds of winning in UK49s Lunch depends on how many numbers you choose and whether you include the bonus ball.

Here’s a simplified guide:

Numbers Matched	6-Ball Game Odds	7-Ball Game Odds
1 Number	6 to 1	5 to 1
2 Numbers	66 to 1	44 to 1
3 Numbers	720 to 1	400 to 1
4 Numbers	8,200 to 1	4,200 to 1
5 Numbers	125,000 to 1	40,000 to 1
6 Numbers	13,983,000 to 1	676,000 to 1

FAQs for UK49s Lunch

1. When is the UK49s Lunch draw?

This draw takes place daily at 12:49 PM UK time.

• How many numbers can I pick in the UK49s Lunch?

You choose up to 6 numbers from 1 to 49 regardless of whether you play the 6-ball or 7-ball game.

• What is the Booster Ball?
  
  

It’s an extra seventh ball drawn in the 7-ball game to give additional chances to win.

• Where can I play UK49s Lunch from Africa?

You can play UK49s Lunch in Africa through many licensed online bookmakers.