History of the South African and World Lotteries

In 1995, the South African Government initiated the process of launching the National Lottery, with the publication of the Main Report on Gambling (RP 85/1995).
In 1996, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alec Erwin, invited companies to bid for the right to operate the National Lottery.
In 1997, Parliament passed the National Lotteries Act (No 57 of 1997)
On 06 November 1997, President Nelson Mandela assented to the Act.
In 1998, Minister Alec Erwin appointed the National Lotteries Board (NLB), the industry regulator, in accordance with the Act.
In June 1999, the NLB recommended its choice to Minister Erwin.

Uthingo Management (Pty) Ltd was founded in 1996 in response to the public invitation by Minister Erwin, to contest the opportunity to operate South Africa’s National Lottery.
The National Lottery bidding and evaluation process is renowned for its transparency, fairness and integrity.
On 09 July 1999, Minister Erwin announced the choice of Uthingo Management (Pty) Ltd as the country’s preferred bidder. Uthingo had invested over R35 million in the bid. process.
On 09 September 1999, the Minister conferred the 7-year license to Uthingo at the public ceremony in Funda Centre, Soweto, where the company pledged to operate a successful world-class lottery with integrity and patriotic commitment to South Africa.

On 11 March 2006 the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, announced that the licence to operate the National Lottery had been awarded to Gidani (Pty) Ltd.
Uthingo operated the South African National Lottery until March 2007 and lost the bid to renew its license to Gidani after a legal battle and negotiations with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. During that period (March to October 2007) the South African National Lottery was suspended and the first Lotto draw after Gidani took over from Uthingo took place on October 13, 2007.