Lotto Fever: Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $17 Million Amid Unclaimed Excitement

The Lotto Powerball has hit a thrilling milestone as its jackpot increases to an impressive $17 million for the next draw this Saturday. The previous $15 million draw went unclaimed, adding excitement among players who hope to strike it rich.

Tonight’s Draw Results

In tonight’s draw, the winning numbers were 9, 36, 16, 35, 31, and 28, with the Bonus Ball being 24 and the Powerball number 2. While no one took home the Powerball jackpot, one fortunate participant from Wellington walked away with $1 million after successfully winning in the Lotto First Division. The lucky ticket was purchased through MyLotto.

Recent Lottery Highlights

This draw follows a remarkable event almost a month ago when an Auckland player matched the biggest single-winner record in New Zealand’s Lotto history. This individual won a staggering $44 million, courtesy of a ticket bought on MyLotto. This incredible prize included a one-fifteenth share of the Division One winnings, bringing the player’s total to $44,066,667.

Back in June, a record Powerball jackpot of $50 million was split among seven winners, each claiming about $7.1 million. Initial winners were quick to come forward, with claims starting the very next day following the draw, although one winner took a bit longer to collect their prize by July.

Hopes and Dreams of Winners

Among the winners of this monumental jackpot, a child of one couple who won expressed their excitement about how their parents planned to use their winnings. The family had already begun home renovations and now were considering a long-desired overseas trip, much to the delight of their children.

How to Check Your Numbers

For those who purchased tickets via MyLotto, checking for winnings is a breeze. Prizes of $1,000 or less are automatically credited to winners’ accounts, while larger prizes require an online form to be filled out. Results of the draws can be viewed shortly after the live broadcast on TVNZ 1 every Wednesday and Saturday around 8:30 PM. Additionally, players can check results through the MyLotto app or online at www.mylotto.co.nz, as well as at Lotto NZ retail locations and nzherald.co.nz.

Claiming Your Prize

Winners holding physical tickets must visit a Lotto retail store to claim their rewards. To win the Powerball jackpot, players need to match all six Lotto numbers, along with the Powerball number. If the jackpot remains unclaimed, it will continue to roll over in subsequent draws until someone claims it. The longest streak of unclaimed Powerball jackpots in Lotto NZ history stands at 24 consecutive draws.

As excitement builds and the jackpot rises, Lotto enthusiasts are reminded that if multiple players win Powerball in a single draw, the prize is equally shared among the winning tickets. With 14 lucky players already becoming multimillionaires in 2024, the anticipation continues to grow.