Powerball Jackpot Jumps to a Massive $34 Million

Media Release 6 April 2011

Powerball Jackpot Jumps to a Massive $34 Million

Increased sales so far this week have prompted NZ Lotteries to announce that this weekend’s minimum ‘must be won’ Powerball jackpot will be increased from $32 million to $34 million.

“Our Lotto retailers have reported huge interest from customers, which has prompted this jackpot increase. A must be won draw attracts a lot of people who don’t normally play Lotto to try their luck and buy a ticket,” says NZ Lotteries Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

“For the last Powerball ‘must be won’ draw in October 2008 our retailers sold 2.3 million tickets, and we now expect to do similar sales this week. This means most households in New Zealand will have a big interest in the numbers being drawn at 8 pm this Saturday.

“Whilst there will be only a few big winners on the night, due to the nature of a lottery, all of the profits raised from this draw will go to benefit communities throughout New Zealand, through our profit transfer to the Lottery Grants Board.”

“We also encourage responsible play by our customers at this time; you don’t need to spend heaps to have a chance at winning the jackpot. A Lotto Powerball ticket can be bought for not much more than a cafe coffee or a beer,” Mr McLeay said.

Meanwhile, NZ Lotteries has crunched the numbers to find New Zealand’s luckiest selling Powerball stores and they are both in Auckland.

Countdown Lynfield and Manukau City Lotto share the record of selling three Powerball First Division winning tickets.

For our South Island players, Hokitika New World has been a lucky store, selling the first-ever, and the biggest, Powerball prize in that region.

And some Powerball numbers appear to be luckier than others – while Powerball number 1 has been drawn the most overall, it is Powerball number 3 that is the most drawn for First Division wins.

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