Tonight’s draw comes a week after three players claimed their share of a record-breaking $55m prize.
One of the winners who took home $18.3m was a Christchurch man who made a snap decision to buy a ticket for the first time in 10 years.
“We were doing the usual grocery shop and as we were walking in, I saw the queue to buy tickets – that’s when I remembered the big draw. It’s been so long since I bought a ticket that I had to ask the operator which ticket I needed,” he said.
“All I could think about was the ticket at home and how maybe it wasn’t a good idea to leave it there,” he laughed.
“Let’s just say we didn’t stay out for long.
“This win opens up a whole new world of opportunities for me and my family.
“It means my parents can finally retire – they have worked so hard to give us a good life – and that’s going to feel very special.
“It means I can give my children every opportunity to be the best they can be, with some of that everyday financial stress lifted.”
Lotto confirmed the other two winning tickets were sold at New World Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty and through the MyLotto app to an Auckland punter.
Fifteen other lucky Lotto punters were also celebrating after winning a $55,556 share of Lotto First Division.
Sixty-two other players won $16,909 in Lotto Second Division.
Of Aotearoa’s 12 previous “must-be-won” draws, the top prize has been shared at a lower division seven times.
Victoria University of Wellington’s Richard Arnold said there was about a 30% chance the full $55m would be won by one person, depending on the total number of players.
He told Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge if two million players buy 10 lines each, there’s about a 30% chance of a single winner in Division 1.
He said if there are four million players, that probably goes up to about 36%.
The winners of the last $50m jackpot told Lotto NZ the key was not to be changed by the sudden wealth.
They advised last week’s winners to “make sure you’re confident in the team you build around you – you have to trust they are giving you good advice”.
What to do if you win
Ticket holders can see immediately if they have won if they purchased a ticket through MyLotto. Prizes of $1000 or less are automatically credited to the account.
For prizes exceeding $1000, winners must complete an online prize claim form.
Winners with a physical ticket must still visit a Lotto retailer to claim their prize.
For the Powerball jackpot to be claimed, a ticket holder must get all six Lotto numbers correct as well as the added Powerball number.
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