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R130,000,000 JACKPOT
499,231 Winners
How to play the New Zealand Lotto
Playing the New Zealand Lotto and picking possible winning numbers are easy and straight-forward. Simply buy a ticket from a Local Retailer to stand a chance to win big cash prizes.
Can you play online? Yes!
Check winning numbers
Estimated jackpot amounts
See draw results
Payout amounts
And more!
Easily check today’s New Zealand Lotto winning numbers, handy and useful tips.
What is the New Zealand Lotto?
The New Zealand Lotto was launched in July 1987 with the inaugural draw taking place on the 1st August 1987 with a jackpot of NZ$359,808. To date, the draw is held twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and has a guaranteed first division prize of NZ$1 million in every draw.
New Zealand Lotto Draw Schedule
The New Zealand Lotto draws are broadcast live on TV on Saturday nights at 8pm NZST and on Wednesday nights at approximately 8.20pm NZST.
The main New Zealand numbers are all drawn with numbered balls ranging from 1 to 40. Six main numbers are chosen at random first and players will be required to match all of them to win the jackpot. One further number will be drawn from the remaining pool of 34, which is the Bonus Ball.
Ticket sales close at 7.30pm NZST on the night of the draw and re-open shortly after. If tickets are bought online through a lottery concierge, ticket sale cut-off times may vary, so players are advised to check with the online service provider in use to ensure confusion is avoided.
How to play the New Zealand Lotto?
To enter, players must select six numbers between 1 to 40 and purchase a minimum of four lines. In order for players to win New Zealand Lotto’s First Division prize all six of their chosen numbers must match the draw. A Bonus Ball is drawn after the six main numbers and increases the value of any prizes won if matched with three, four or five main numbers.
Additional Draw
Players who take part in the main New Zealand Lotto game have the option to enter two add-on games for an additional fee – Strike! and Powerball.
Strike!: Players need to predict the first four numbers drawn from the Lotto drum; the more accurate – the greater the prize.
Powerball: Players have to match a special ball in addition to those in the main Lotto game to have a chance to win prizes that reach up to eight figures.
New Zealand Lotto Prizes
The Division 1 jackpot is set at NZ$1 million in every draw, alongside additional games such as Powerball and Strike which can be added onto tickets to increase potential winnings. There are a further six prize tiers which require players to match fewer numbers in exchange for smaller prizes.
How to claim your lotto cash prize
Bonus tickets and cash prizes up to and including $1,000: Claim at any Lotto outlet by presenting and surrendering the ticket, and the prize is paid out from the terminal.
All non-cash prizes and cash prizes over $1,000: Claim at any Lotto outlet by presenting and surrendering the ticket. The ticket holder must complete a Prize Claim form, which will be sent along with the ticket to Lotto NZ in Auckland for the claim process.
Prizes over $5,000 and special draw prizes: The terminal operator must call Lotto NZ to unlock the terminal, giving Lotto NZ staff a chance to talk to the winners.
Prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the draw, otherwise the prize is void and the unclaimed money goes back into the prize pool.
History of the New Zealand Lotto
The New Zealand Lotteries Commission, trading as Lotto New Zealand since 2013, is a Crown entity that operates nationwide lotteries in New Zealand. It was established in 1987 and operates under the Gambling Act 2003.
9 November 2016 (draw 1593): The largest prize was won by a single ticket holder in the amount of $44,066,667. The winning ticket was sold at Dairy Flat Food Mart in Auckland. The prize was made up of $44,000,000 in Powerball and $66,667 in Lotto.
The greatest number of tickets sold for a single draw was for the aforementioned Powerball draw of 9 November 2016 (draw 1593).
The record for the most First Division winners in one draw was set on 19 September 2018 (draw 1787), when 40 people won First Division. Each winner received $25,000.
Comparison table for the New Zealand Lotto
A breakdown of the odds and prize tiers for the New Zealand Lotto can be found below:
| Match | Odds | Average Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | 1 in 3,838,380 | Over $400,000 |
| Match 5 plus Bonus | 1 in 639,730 | $20,159 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 19,386 | $635 |
| Match 4 plus Bonus | 1 in 7,754 | $60 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 485 | $33 |
| Match 3 plus Bonus | 1 in 363 | $24 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 35 | Free Lotto Bonus ticket |
All New Zealand Lotto winnings are paid out in a tax-free cash lump sum.
Draw six balls from 40, and a bonus ball from the remaining 34.
| Division | Winning numbers | Bonus ball | Odds per line | Odds per $7 dip | Avg. Prize payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | No | 1 in 3,838,380 | 1 in 383,838 | Over $350,000 |
| 2 | 5 | Yes | 1 in 639,730 | 1 in 63,973 | $19,995 |
| 3 | 5 | No | 1 in 19,386 | 1 in 1,939 | $601 |
| 4 | 4 | Yes | 1 in 7,754 | 1 in 775 | $55 |
| 5 | 4 | No | 1 in 485 | 1 in 48 | $30 |
| 6 | 3 | Yes | 1 in 363 | 1 in 36 | $22 |
| 7 | 3 | No | 1 in 35 | 1 in 3.5 | Bonus Lotto Ticket* |
All New Zealand Lotto winnings are paid out in a tax-free cash lump sum.
Comparison table for the New Zealand Lotto
Remember – there’s no real way to predict the set of winning numbers as drawings are completely random, but there are tried and tested ways to increase your chance to win. The probability that you will win the next draw is monumental – but it can still be tons of fun to try!
Just a few thoughts before we get into it –
Previous results have no bearing on future ones.
The key to successful lotto number selection methods are playing the probabilities.
If you play a pattern that occurs only five percent of the time, you can expect that pattern to lose 95 percent of the time, giving you no chance to win 95 percent of the time. So, don't buck the probabilities.
Lottery numbers are randomly drawn. But randomly drawn numbers form patterns that can be tracked and used to your advantage.
We will pop in some fun strategies and bonus tips along the line for good measure!
Play the Right Games
There is a selection of lottery games—and they each have different odds of winning.
Read the odds to ensure you're maximizing your chances of winning.
Pick up some scratch cards. Yes, they offer smaller prizes but higher chances of winning overall.
#Strategie 1:
Identifying Hot numbers, Cold numbers, Overdue Numbers
To use the hot, cold, overdue strategy, analyze the results of your chosen lottery – see which numbers have been drawn recently and which haven’t, at least 50 drawings is needed to get a decent sample size.
Hot numbers: Picked most frequently
Cold numbers: drawn less frequently overall.
Overdue numbers: are ones that have not shown up in recent weeks.
Some players claim that creating a set of winning numbers by mixing hot, cold, and overdue numbers gives players an edge.
Bonus Tip:
Look at a list of past winning numbers for The UK Lotto, and you’ll see, more often than not, one or more of the number groups are not represented. For example, in the combination 5-14-17-32-38-46, there are no 20’s. Tracking and studying Number Groups can help you make a informed choice.
Don’t Miss a Lottery Win!
One MegaMillions lottery ticket worth nearly $300,000 was never claimed!
Keep your ticket somewhere that is safe and easy to find
Make a note of the drawing date and time in your calendar
Check and Double-check the numbers against your ticket
Use a lottery app to keep track
#Strategie 2:
Pick Traditional Lucky Numbers
According to a poll run by mathematician Alex Bellos, seven is not surprisingly the most popular lucky number in the world.
Seven days of the week, seven wonders of the world, seven continents, seven seas, and the list goes on.
Other traditional lucky numbers include three (as in “good things come in threes”) and four.
Play Second-Chance Games (Where Possible)
Many lotteries offer second-chance drawings on non-winning tickets giving players a bonus chance to be a winner.
#Strategie 3:
Pick Traditional Lucky Numbers
Pick numbers that have a personal meaning to you. For example, birthdays, a wedding anniversary, or the birthdays of kids and/or grandkids.
Apart from dates consider the number of kids you have or the house number of your childhood home – whatever feels lucky to you.
Just a little note on this play, when it comes to picking lottery numbers, dates are just as popular and many people will play them. On the other hand, dates often show up among the most popular lottery numbers!
Bonus Tip! Play a balanced game
After you choose six numbers you want to play, add them together and make sure that the sum of the six numbers adds up to between 122 and 196. Sums that fall within that range will account for over 70 percent of all lottery jackpots won.
Take Steps to Secure Winning Lottery Tickets
Sign it! Your signature on the back of a lottery ticket can help you prove that it is indeed yours if it gets lost or stolen.
#Strategie 4:
Use Numerology to Pick Lucky Numbers
Horoscopes: Lucky Numbers for Today
If you’d like to find lucky numbers without having to play around with numbers yourself, your daily horoscope is a good place to turn.
Many horoscopes include predictions of which days will be lucky for you (and you can try playing the lottery on those days).
Choose Rarer Numbers
Picking certain numbers may offer you a slight advantage, not for your chances of winning, but for your payout.
If you win a lottery jackpot, there is a chance that you might have to split the payout with players who picked the same numbers, so you might as well try to select rarer numbers to improve your odds of keeping more of the payout for yourself.
#Strategie 5:
Lucky Number Generators
The simplest way to find lucky numbers to play is simply to use a generator. Lucky number generators use numerology, or perhaps simply randomness, to find numbers for you.
Bonus Tip! Play a balanced game
In Lotto 6/52, on average, one lottery number will be a repeat hit from the last drawing 56 percent of the time.
Just a note About #LotteryStrategies
Finding and playing lucky numbers is based on fun more than facts. Mathematically, every number has an equal chance of being chosen as a winner.
Remember that there are disadvantages to using traditional lucky numbers as lottery numbers: a lot of other players will be using them, too. That means that if these numbers do win, players chances of having to split the jackpot are high.
Why the New Zealand Lotto is so popular?
Not only does the New Zealand Lotto offer players “top prize” payouts, but it has multiple ways and chances to win. As previous results and jackpot payouts will show, the New Zealand Lotto offers players of any income a chance to win and dream BIG! The New Zealand Lotto the most pay-outs throughout the prize categories, which makes it a solid choice nationwide and abroad.
New Zealand Lotto number generator
Odds of winning The New Zealand Lotto
A breakdown of the odds and prize tiers for the New Zealand Lotto can be found below:
| Match | Odds | Average Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | 1 in 3,838,380 | Over $400,000 |
| Match 5 plus Bonus | 1 in 639,730 | $20,159 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 19,386 | $635 |
| Match 4 plus Bonus | 1 in 7,754 | $60 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 485 | $33 |
| Match 3 plus Bonus | 1 in 363 | $24 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 35 | Free Lotto Bonus ticket |
All New Zealand Lotto winnings are paid out in a tax-free cash lump sum.
Prize Tiers
Draw six balls from 40, and a bonus ball from the remaining 34.
| Division | Winning numbers | Bonus ball | Odds per line | Odds per $7 dip | Avg. Prize payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | No | 1 in 3,838,380 | 1 in 383,838 | Over $350,000 |
| 2 | 5 | Yes | 1 in 639,730 | 1 in 63,973 | $19,995 |
| 3 | 5 | No | 1 in 19,386 | 1 in 1,939 | $601 |
| 4 | 4 | Yes | 1 in 7,754 | 1 in 775 | $55 |
| 5 | 4 | No | 1 in 485 | 1 in 48 | $30 |
| 6 | 3 | Yes | 1 in 363 | 1 in 36 | $22 |
| 7 | 3 | No | 1 in 35 | 1 in 3.5 | Bonus Lotto Ticket* |
All New Zealand Lotto winnings are paid out in a tax-free cash lump sum.
Is the New Zealand Lotto a Scam?
Absolutely not! The New Zealand Lotto was launched in May 1987, an is still going strong over 33 years later.
Between November 2002 and August 2004, a millionaire was drawn every week from all the Division One winners.
The rest of the Division One prizes were as follows:
If there were between one and four left, they won $250,000 each.
If there were between five and nine left, they won $150,000 each.
If there were between 10 and 19 left, they won $100,000 each.
If there were 20 or more left, they shared $300,000 between them.
Unfortunately, fake wins with other institutions have become a regular occurrence – so here are a few tips to keep you and your money safe!
A lottery scam is an attempt to fraudulently extract money from someone by pretending to be a legitimate lottery company or winning player. It has sadly become a too common method of deception as such scams prey on people’s desire to win money and the popularity of big lottery games.
Did you receive a notification that you have won a prize in a lottery? Perhaps the Microsoft Lottery? If so, don’t get too enthusiastic as this is almost certainly a scam. Players need to find the winning numbers in a newspaper, the internet, or on TV and compare them to their ticket.
Win notices from foreign lotteries are even more suspicious. Not only do foreign lotteries have the same restriction as domestic lotteries, but it is also illegal to sell tickets for foreign lotteries across international borders.
Therefore, unless a player actually was in a foreign country and bought a lottery ticket, foreign lottery notifications are frauds.
Only buy tickets from authorized lottery retailers.
Offers to sell international lottery tickets by mail or online are usually illegal.
If you didn't buy a lottery ticket or participate in a second-chance lottery game, you didn't win no matter how convincing a text message may sound.
The lottery doesn't notify players when you win; players alone are responsible for checking your winning tickets.
Players are NEVER required to pay money up-front to receive a winning lottery prize.
A lottery scam is a type of advance-fee fraud which begins with an unexpected email notification, phone call, or mailing (sometimes including a large check) explaining that “You have won!” a large sum of money in a lottery.
What to do:
If you receive a letter or email claiming that you won a prize for the New Zealand Lotto but did not enter, it is strongly recommended that you:
Delete or destroy the letter or email immediately.
Do not open any link contained in a suspicious email.
Do not respond to, or contact, the sender.
Do not disclose any personal or financial information.
Do not send any money.
If you have already responded, break off contact with the fraudster immediately.
If you have provided personal or financial details, alert your bank immediately.
If you receive a suspicious email, or believe you have been the victim of internet fraud, report it to the police.
Clues to look for:
The email is sent from a free webmail address (e.g. @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @gmail etc.)
The letter or email starts with something vague like ‘Dear Winner’.
Scam letters are often on poor quality, photocopied letterhead (although some will include a genuine business address in an attempt to provide legitimacy).
Strict time limit to claim the ‘prize’. This is intended to put the potential victim under pressure and deter them from seeking advice or investigating the matter further.
Confidentiality is often demanded as a ‘condition of winning’. Again, this is to deter the recipient from seeking the advice of friends or family who may be more familiar with this type of scam.
Poor spelling, grammar and syntax are usually a good indication that the letter or email is a scam.
The biggest note to remember – It’s impossible to win a lottery without buying a ticket!
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Conclusion
No matter where players live in the world, all are welcome to buy New Zealand Lotto and Powerball tickets through an online lottery concierge service. New Zealand Lotto prizes must be claimed within a year of the date of the winning draw, and there are no tax implications for New Zealand residents who win, but taxes may be payable in other countries – It is best to check with a tax specialist as to potential liabilities.