Starting 8th September Ithuba will show a new type of live lottery draws. There will be many animated "show" elements, but players are concerned about something else. This change is not only about visual draws appearance in TV.
Ithuba is changing live lottery draws
Since 1999 draws were conducted using typical machines and balls. But now we say goodbye to them as the new format is presented. Lotto and Powerball drawing will be just an animation using CGI. Numbers will be chosen by an RNG - random number generator.
Numbers will be selected, or rather randomly generated after sales close. They will be aired 30 minutes later. Conclusion is - no more live draw..
The PowerBall and PowerBall PLUS draw will be broadcast on e.tv, Tuesdays, and Fridays at 9 pm. The LOTTO, LOTTO PLUS 1 and LOTTO PLUS 2 draw will be broadcast on SABC 2, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:56 pm
You can take a pick at the new show as Ithuba presented this promotional video:
Pros and Cons of Computerised Draws
To conduct a lottery draw using the computer you need a very good number generator. So the question is what type of generator will Ithuba use?
Another problem is that every computer system can be rigged. You cannot tell this about mechanical draws, as we are used to. This consist of machines and ball, that can't be rigged. Actually, the digital draw was rigged once, in America.
We understand why Ithuba switches to computer draws - they are faster, neat and clean. However, this type of draws can be hardly accepted by players.
Computerised draw was rigged once in USA
Tom Tipton successfully rigged US lottery called Hot Lotto. He, as a security worker managed to enter the lottery computer and change the results for his numbers. After a long trial, he was sentenced to prison. Now, nobody likes computer draws.