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Lotto NZ has outlined how it will release information to the public ahead of Saturday night’s record-breaking $55 million Powerball Must Be Won draw, saying it wants players to have time to check their tickets before stores are named.
The $55 million jackpot for the November 15 draw is the largest ever offered by Lotto NZ, made possible by strong forecast ticket sales.
In a Must Be Won draw, if no one wins Powerball First Division, the entire prize pool rolls down to the next highest division with winners.
Lotto NZ Head of Corporate Communications Will Hine said excitement was building across the country.
“Lotto head office and our retailers are buzzing with excitement – this is the largest prize ever on offer with Powerball and it has to be won on Saturday,” Hine said.
“The three $50 million Must Be Won draws we’ve previously held were all won by multiple winners, so there’s a chance that might happen this time too. Regardless of how many people win on Saturday, we know the ripple effect of this win is likely to be felt far and wide in the winners’ communities.”
Hine encouraged players to keep their expectations realistic.
“This is an exciting time for New Zealanders, and we want to remind our players not to spend more than they can afford and only spend from their entertainment budget. A ticket can be bought for $6, which gives you four lines in the draw.”
He said retail stores were expected to be busy from mid-afternoon on Saturday, with the final hour before sales close at 7.30pm also likely to be busy online.
“Our best advice for anyone wanting to buy a ticket is to get in early and avoid those busy times.”
How Lotto NZ will release results
Lotto NZ has made changes to how it will share draw information with the media and public, similar to the approach taken during last year’s $50 million Must Be Won draw.
“With all the extra excitement around a Must Be Won draw, we want to make sure that our customers have a chance to check their tickets individually before details of where the winning tickets were sold are made public,” Hine said.
On Saturday night (November 15), Lotto NZ will release:
- The winning ball numbers for Lotto and Powerball
- The number of Powerball winning tickets and the amount won by each
- The number of Lotto winning tickets and the amount won by each
- The number of Strike winning tickets and the amount won by each
On Sunday morning (November 16), around 11am, Lotto NZ will release:
- The locations and/or stores where the winning tickets were sold.
“Lotto NZ expects significant interest nationwide as players await confirmation of where the life-changing tickets were purchased.”
