Two new millionaires from massive $38m Lotto jackpot

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Kiwis have Lotto fever this week. Did you win?

Two lucky Aucklanders are splitting a massive $38 million Powerball jackpot.

Both winning tickets were sold on MyLotto, with the winners each taking home $19,142,857.

'There was a lot of excitement around the country in the lead up to tonight's draw and we're thrilled that two lucky players have won big with Powerball tonight,' said Kirsten Robinson, Senior Corporate Communications Manager at Lotto NZ.

Tonight's winning numbers are 22, 29, 14, 7, 17 and 5. Bonus ball 9 and Powerball 2. Good luck everyone!

— Lotto New Zealand (@Lotto_NZ) October 16, 2019

'This year is shaping up to be a lucky one for Powerball players, with 14 Kiwis winning big with Powerball so far this year. We're looking forward to celebrating with New Zealand's newest multi-millionaires – the champagne is on ice!'

* What it takes to make statistics professors play Lotto

* How ordinary Kiwis would spend $38 million**

They weren't the only prizewinners, though. Five Kiwis won $142,857 with Lotto First Division.

Those winning tickets were sold at Countdown Manukau City Mall, New World Southmall and Porchester Road Superette in Auckland, MyLotto in Hawke's Bay, and New World Merrilands in New Plymouth.

Immediately after the draw, the MyLotto was hit by heavy traffic as Kiwis checked whether they had won. A message on the site said 'MyLotto is currently experiencing high demand and some customers may have trouble accessing the site. We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please try back again later'.

Not a winner? Just imagine how sweet victory would be.

Your chances of winning

Kiwis have a one in 38.8 million chance of their seven numbers coming up during a draw.

Experts say there's little you can do to increase your chances of winning, beyond buying more tickets.

'If you want to maximise your expected outcome, then you would want to pick numbers that are less likely to be picked by other people so you are less likely to have to share the jackpot,' Peter Donelan, head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Victoria University told Stuff in 2016.

New Zealand's big Lotto winners

• January 2019: A young Taranaki woman continues her New Year celebrations by winning $22.3m in Powerball.

• August 2018: A man in his 20s from Central Otago wins $22.3m and claims the largest Powerball prize to ever be won in the South Island.

• November 2016: Powerball jackpots to $38m.

• July 2016: Powerball jackpots to $40m

• April 2016: $22.2m is won by an Ashburton player with Powerball First Division.

• September 2013: $33m Powerball prize won by a player in West Auckland.

• September 2012: Big Wednesday prize of $27m won by young Tauranga man who bought ticket when getting his hair cut.

• March 2012: A $26m Powerball First Division prize won by buyer from the small town of Te Kauwhata.

• April 2011: Powerball reached its second-ever $30m 'Must Be Won' jackpot. It went on to climb to $35m.

• October 2010: $28.7m Powerball prize won by a player in Papakura in Auckland.

• October 2009: A $22.4m Powerball prize won by buyer from Manukau in Auckland.

• June 2009: Big Wednesday reached $36m. It was won by a family syndicate.

• October 2008: Lotto Powerball reached $30m. Five winners split the prize.

• September 2005: Kathy Laugesen became the first person to win $1m on Lotto's Winning Wheel.