A Lucky Numbers dream guide is a list that maps a dream symbol to a number. The tradition comes from FAFI, the South African street-level numbers game with roots in the early 1900s Cape Town Chinese community. Players still use it today to pick numbers for FAFI, UK 49s and the Daily Lotto. This page lists the full traditional set of 36 FAFI numbers, plus a wider table of common dream symbols people use on UK 49s.
One important note up front. A dream guide is folk knowledge, not a prediction system. The numbers are traditional, not chosen by maths. Every Lucky Numbers draw is random. Use the guide as a fun pick method, not a strategy.
What is a dream guide?
The idea is simple. You wake up, you remember what you dreamed about, you look up the symbol on the list, and you play that number on your next Lucky Numbers ticket. A dream of a snake gets you the snake number. A dream of money gets you the money number. The mapping does not change between players, so two people who both dream of a tiger play the same number.
The list runs from 1 to 36 because the original FAFI game uses 36 symbols. UK 49s and Daily Lotto use bigger ranges (1 to 49 and 1 to 36 respectively), so for UK 49s players add common dream mappings up to 49 by community tradition.
Traditional FAFI dream guide: 1 to 36
Below is the most widely used FAFI list. Some communities run small variations, so if your guide differs, that is normal. Both can be “right” by tradition.
| Number | Traditional symbol | Common dream that triggers it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The King | Dreams of a king, ruler or someone in authority |
| 2 | Monkey or money | Dreams of a monkey, or finding money |
| 3 | Sea water | Dreams of the sea, ocean, big waves |
| 4 | Dead man | Dreams of a male relative who has passed |
| 5 | Tiger | Dreams of a tiger or large striped cat |
| 6 | Cow or ox | Dreams of cattle or grazing animals |
| 7 | Thief or robber | Dreams of being robbed or chased |
| 8 | Pig | Dreams of a pig or pork |
| 9 | Moon | Dreams of the moon, night sky |
| 10 | Eggs | Dreams of eggs, chickens laying |
| 11 | Car or carriage | Dreams of driving, taxis, transport |
| 12 | Dead woman | Dreams of a female relative who has passed |
| 13 | Big fish | Dreams of catching or eating large fish |
| 14 | Old man | Dreams of an elderly man, grandfather |
| 15 | Bad woman | Dreams of conflict with a woman |
| 16 | Pigeon or dove | Dreams of birds in flight |
| 17 | Diamond or jewellery | Dreams of gems, gold rings, sparkling stones |
| 18 | Silver coins | Dreams of coins, small change |
| 19 | Little girl | Dreams of a young female child |
| 20 | Cat | Dreams of any house cat |
| 21 | Elephant | Dreams of an elephant or very large animal |
| 22 | Rat or mouse | Dreams of small rodents |
| 23 | Horse | Dreams of horses, riding, racing |
| 24 | Mouth | Dreams of teeth, talking, kissing |
| 25 | Big house | Dreams of a large home or mansion |
| 26 | Bees | Dreams of bees, hives, being stung |
| 27 | Little boy | Dreams of a young male child |
| 28 | Little fish | Dreams of small fish, fish tanks |
| 29 | River or stream | Dreams of running water, rivers |
| 30 | Hen or chicken | Dreams of poultry, chickens running |
| 31 | Fire | Dreams of flames, burning, warmth |
| 32 | Gold | Dreams of gold bars, jewellery, treasure |
| 33 | Big snake | Dreams of a python, large snake |
| 34 | Excrement or dirt | Dreams of waste, mud, mess |
| 35 | Small snake | Dreams of a small snake, garden snake |
| 36 | Living woman | Dreams of your wife, mother, partner |
Extra dream symbols for UK 49s (37 to 49)
UK 49s draws numbers from 1 to 49, which is wider than FAFI. The numbers above 36 are not traditional FAFI symbols. Communities have built their own mappings over the years. The list below is the most common informal version used on SA UK 49s tickets.
| Number | Symbol | Dream trigger |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Wedding | Dreams of a marriage, ring, ceremony |
| 38 | Funeral | Dreams of a funeral, coffin, mourning |
| 39 | Baby | Dreams of a newborn or pregnancy |
| 40 | Police | Dreams of being arrested or chased |
| 41 | Dog | Dreams of a dog, barking, biting |
| 42 | Teeth falling | Dreams of teeth coming loose |
| 43 | Falling | Dreams of falling from a height |
| 44 | Flying | Dreams of flying, floating in the air |
| 45 | Blood | Dreams of blood, cuts, injury |
| 46 | Church | Dreams of prayer, religion, a priest |
| 47 | School | Dreams of being back in class, exams |
| 48 | Lost item | Dreams of losing something valuable |
| 49 | Ancestor | Dreams of an ancestor visiting you |
How to use the dream guide on a real ticket
The dream guide is a pick method, not a betting strategy. Here is how SA players actually use it.
- Note the dream as soon as you wake up. Memory fades fast. The strongest symbol is the one that stuck in your mind first.
- Look up the symbol on the table above. Pick the closest match, not a perfect match. A dream of a python is “big snake” (33), not “small snake” (35).
- Pick a market that fits the number range. FAFI runs 1-36, so a number above 36 will not work. UK 49s (1-49) and Daily Lotto (1-36) both fit the FAFI list. SA Lotto goes up to 52.
- Combine with one or two other numbers. Most Lucky Numbers tickets need at least 3 numbers. Add a birthday, a house number or another dream symbol.
- Set a small bet. R5 to R20 is a typical Lucky Numbers stake on Hollywoodbets, YesPlay or Playabets. Do not chase the bet up after a loss.
Lucky Numbers markets that accept this guide
The dream guide works for any Lucky Numbers market where you pick your own numbers. The biggest SA markets are:
- UK 49s lunchtime and teatime: 1 to 49, two daily draws, the most popular Lucky Numbers market in SA.
- FAFI: 1 to 36, three daily draws, the original game the dream guide was built for.
- Daily Lotto (the official SA one): 1 to 36, one daily draw at 21:00.
- Russia Gosloto: 1 to 45, popular with morning ticket buyers.
- Spanish BonoLoto: 1 to 49, daily draws, accepted by Hollywoodbets and YesPlay.
For the operators with the widest Lucky Numbers menu, see our Hollywoodbets Lucky Numbers review, YesPlay Lucky Numbers review and Playabets Lucky Numbers review. Hollywoodbets covers 15+ daily draws, YesPlay runs 164 and Playabets opens at a R5 minimum bet.
Where the FAFI dream guide comes from
FAFI is a numbers game brought to South Africa by Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s. The 36 symbols come from older Chinese street lottery games. Each one carries a single picture, like a king or a snake, and that picture is the trigger for a number. The game was kept alive by runners who carried bets and slips between players and the operator three times a day.
FAFI is still played in townships across Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The South African government legalised it under provincial gambling boards from the 1990s. Online operators now offer FAFI alongside Lucky Numbers, with the same draws and the same dream guide as the offline version.
Important honesty note
This is folk knowledge, not a system that beats the draw. Every Lucky Numbers draw is random. The dream guide does not raise your odds of winning over a quick pick or any other method. It is a way to choose numbers that feel personal, not a way to predict results.
Treat Lucky Numbers tickets as entertainment. Do not bet money you cannot afford to lose. If you find yourself betting more after a loss to “win it back,” that is a sign to stop.
Dream guide FAQ
Does the dream guide actually work?
Not in any predictive sense. The draws are random and the symbols are traditional, not statistical. The guide is a fun pick method, not a winning strategy. Lucky Numbers operators run the same RNG draws regardless of how you choose your numbers.
Why are some FAFI numbers different on other websites?
FAFI is folk tradition. The mappings have small variations between communities and between the original Chinese versions. Some old lists swap “monkey” for “money” on number 2, or “old woman” for “old man” on 14. Both versions are used in SA. Pick one list and stick to it for consistency.
Can I use the dream guide on Daily Lotto?
Yes, because Daily Lotto draws 1 to 36, which matches the full FAFI range. Pick five numbers from the dream guide, or mix in one dream symbol with four other picks.
What if I dream of more than one symbol?
Pick the one that felt strongest or the one you remembered first on waking. Some players play all symbols from the dream and combine them on a multi-number ticket. That is fine, but it costs more per ticket.
Where can I bet on Lucky Numbers in SA?
Hollywoodbets, YesPlay, Playabets, Easybet, Betshezi and Gbets all run Lucky Numbers markets. Stakes start at R1 to R5 depending on the operator. All of them accept self-pick numbers, so the dream guide method works on every one.
Is FAFI legal in South Africa?
Yes. FAFI is licensed under the provincial gambling boards. Online FAFI markets run under the same operator licence as Lucky Numbers and sports betting.
18+. Lucky Numbers tickets are gambling. Play responsibly. National Responsible Gambling Programme: 0800 006 008. The dream guide is a traditional pick method, not a prediction system. Draw outcomes are random. iGaming Reviews is independent and may earn a commission when you sign up through our links. This does not change our review or rating.