This past weekend has been a joyous occasion for two lucky Lotto players from Waikato, who each walked away with more than $25,000 following a successful draw. These wins are part of a broader picture, with a total of eighteen players across the region scoring the Lotto second division, each taking home an impressive $25,722.
Powerball Success Adds to the Excitement
In addition to the two Waikato winners, three other players were fortunate enough to win in the second division Powerball, with their winnings reaching $36,836. The tickets that made these wins possible were purchased at Davies Corner Foodmarket and through the MyLotto online platform.
The excitement didn’t stop there, as other second division winners hailed from locations including Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Timaru. The Powerball winnings were also spread across players from Auckland and Kawerau.
Lotto’s First Division Draws Attention
Meanwhile, two players from Auckland and one from Tauranga have partnered up to share Lotto’s first division prize of $1 million. The Powerball did not have a winner this time, leading to a rollover that has increased the next jackpot to an eye-popping $38 million.
The winning numbers drawn on August 3 were 1, 17, 19, 27, 28, 29, with the bonus ball being 24. The Powerball number was recorded as 1, and the Strike sequence was made up of numbers 17, 28, 29, and 27.
Canterbury Strike Players Also Celebrate
In another display of Lotto luck, two players from Canterbury celebrated winning $250,000 with Strike Four, thanks to tickets bought via MyLotto. The winning tickets were purchased by players from Waimate and Selwyn.
Additionally, a Waikato MyLotto player became over $30,000 richer after Wednesday night’s draw. This individual was one of twenty-two second division winners, including another Powerball winner from Auckland, who took home $31,988. The remaining winners each received $17,979, further spreading the winnings across the community.
Looking Ahead to Future Draws
As the excitement builds towards Wednesday’s draw, anticipation has reached new heights. This $38 million jackpot stands out as the second-largest total prize of the year, only trailing a jaw-dropping $50 million won in June by seven lucky players, each claiming a share of $7.2 million. While two winners quickly came forward, it took a bit longer for the last participant to claim their prize, with the joyous news shared among family members during a heartfelt gathering.
Much has changed for the lucky winners since their big scores, with one of their children commenting on the positive impact of the windfall. “They’ve slowly been doing bits on the house, and now they can afford to finish the renovations,” said the child, adding, “They’ve been talking about a special overseas trip for a long time and now they can do that; it will be amazing for them.”
Other notable Powerball jackpots since that monumental win include a $4.5 million payout to a MyLotto player in Waikato on June 12 and another $5.5 million won by a physical ticket buyer in Waitara on June 19.