How to Play UK49s Drivetime
Drivetime is the third of the four daily UK49s draws, held between Lunchtime and Teatime. You bet on it with a bookmaker: choose from one to five numbers, and if every one of them comes up, you are paid at fixed odds.
How the draw works
- A machine holds 49 balls, numbered 1 to 49.
- Six main numbers are drawn, then a seventh, the Booster ball, from the balls left in the machine. All seven are different.
- The draw is every day at 4:49 PM UK time, which is 5:49 PM SAST today. See the draw times for when that changes.
- Every draw is independent: nothing carries over from one draw to the next.
How to place a bet
- Choose how many numbers to back, from one to five, and pick them from 1 to 49 (or take a lucky dip).
- Choose a 6-ball or 7-ball bet: whether the Booster ball counts.
- Choose your stake, and place the bet before the draw.
- After the draw, check your numbers against the latest Drivetime results. Every number you backed must be drawn for the bet to win.
6-ball and 7-ball bets
On a 6-ball bet only the six main numbers count. On a 7-ball bet the Booster counts too, which makes winning more likely, so bookmakers pay lower odds for it.
For example, you back the number 27. If the draw is 3, 14, 27, 31, 40, 45 with Booster 9, you win either way. If the draw is 3, 14, 22, 31, 40, 45 with Booster 27, a 7-ball bet wins and a 6-ball bet loses.
Your chance of winning
The true chance that every number you back is drawn, before any bookmaker sets its odds:
| Numbers backed | 6-ball bet | 7-ball bet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 in 8 | 1 in 7 |
| 2 | 1 in 78 | 1 in 56 |
| 3 | 1 in 921 | 1 in 526 |
| 4 | 1 in 14,125 | 1 in 6,054 |
| 5 | 1 in 317,814 | 1 in 90,804 |
Play responsibly
Betting is for over-18s only. If gambling is becoming a problem, call the National Responsible Gambling Programme toll-free on 0800 006 008.
UK49s questions
Is UK49s a lottery?
Not in the usual sense. You do not buy a ticket into a prize pool; you place a fixed-odds bet with a bookmaker on which numbers will be drawn. There is no jackpot and no rollover, and every winning bet is paid in full at the odds you took.
What is the Booster ball?
A seventh ball, drawn from the same machine after the six main numbers. Whether it counts depends on your bet: it is ignored on a 6-ball bet and counts as a winning number on a 7-ball bet.
Who runs the UK49s draws?
49’s Limited, set up in 1996 by UK bookmakers. The draws are produced by SIS and broadcast live to betting shops, and the operator is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.