Sportstake Returns After Two-Month Absence
Updated: Monday 10th August 2020
Update 10 August: Tickets for both Sportstake 8 and Sportstake 13 are now back on sale online and at lottery retailers.
Sportstake 13 has returned following a two-month suspension, allowing you to predict the outcome of soccer matches once again. A list of fixtures has been released for Sportstake 13 this weekend.
Other games have been able to continue in South Africa throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but lottery operator Ithuba had to suspend Sportstake back in March because it relies on football matches taking place around the world.
All major soccer competitions were shut down to help stop the spread of the virus, as countries everywhere imposed restrictions which made it impossible for sport to continue.
However, with European nations now gradually emerging from their lockdowns, soccer is set to return. The German Bundesliga is scheduled to resume from Saturday 16th May and there are plans to restart other events in the coming weeks.
The majority of this weekend’s Sportstake 13 fixtures are taken from Germany - including matches such as Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke and Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich.
In Sportstake 13, the aim of the game is to predict what will happen in 13 matches – whether the result will be a home win, away win or a draw. You have to get at least 10 predictions correct to win a prize.
The last time that a set of Sportstake fixtures were all completed was for the game on 13th March. A few more fixture lists were published but the matches all had to be postponed. It is now possible to take part again, although sales are only available online. Sportstake 8 is still suspended for the moment, with no fixture announced for this game yet.
Retail Sales Suspended
Retail tickets had continued to be available for other games until late April, when Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel stepped in to clarify that it was not an essential service. Ithuba then instructed retailers to suspend ticket sales.
All games are currently only available online, which is a safe way to take part at the current time. Ithuba has also closed its National Lottery offices so it is not possible to claim prizes won from retail tickets while there are restrictions in place. The claim period for prizes is 365 days.
UPDATE: Sportstake 8 also returned on 26 June. The game was not initially available when Sportstake 13 resumed in May, but entries later went on sale again to end a three-month absence. Retail sales for all other games also restarted on 1 June.
Published: Friday 15th May 2020Latest Lottery News News Archive