In an exciting turn of events from last night’s high-stakes Powerball draw, a staggering $50 million jackpot saw seven lucky punters cash in, with two of them already claiming their share of the prize. None of the winners held a single ticket with all the winning numbers, which led to an unprecedented roll down of the jackpot to the next division.
Lucky Tickets and Big Wins
This afternoon, Lotto officials confirmed that two winners have come forward to claim their respective prizes of over $7.1 million each. While details about the winners remain scant, Lotto NZ has promised to release more information in the coming days. The winning tickets were purchased from various outlets, including Pak’nSave Wairau Rd in Auckland, Woolworths Metro in Auckland, Royal Oak Mall Lotto in Auckland, Shop Rite Dairy in Hamilton, and New World Hastings.
Among the winners, two Auckland players purchased their tickets via MyLotto. Another ticket-holder from Auckland, who bought at Jalaram Dairy, enjoyed a separate win of $600,000 by hitting the Strike Four numbers.
How the Prizes Were Distributed
Each of the seven fortunate winners will walk away with a remarkable sum of $7,180,041, after the massive jackpot rolled down to Division Two. To secure these winnings, ticket-holders had five correct Lotto numbers along with a bonus ball, as well as the Powerball. The winning numbers drawn were 22, 35, 10, 30, 21, 37, and the bonus ball 5, with the Powerball being 2.
The excitement didn’t end there; an additional 14 players received an impressive $71,429 each. These winners hailed from various locations across the country, including three MyLotto players from Auckland and one each from Wellington, Hamilton, and Gisborne. Other winning tickets were purchased at locations such as Rockys Superette in Auckland, Paper Plus in Mount Maunganui, and New World outlets across the country.
Reactions from Lotto Officials
Lotto NZ’s chief executive, Jason Delamore, expressed his enthusiasm over the increased number of winners. “It’s amazing that Powerball rolled down to Second Division and was shared between seven players. It’s fantastic to see more of our lucky players get to experience what it’s like to win,” he said. Delamore added that such wins could have a life-changing impact not only on the winners but also on their communities.
High Demand and Record Numbers
Prior to the draw, Lotto enthusiasts were cautioned to take screenshots of their digital tickets, anticipating a rush to check results. The high stakes attracted approximately two million ticket purchases, leading to queues that spilled into streets and shopping malls across the nation. In light of the overwhelming demand, the MyLotto site temporarily went offline during the peak hours following the draw.
Under the rules of the Powerball draw, if no winner emerges from the First Division (which requires all seven numbers to be matched), the entire jackpot rolls down to the next division where there are winners, effectively creating more opportunities for players to win.
The thrill of the lottery continues to bring excitement, and with each draw, new stories of luck and change for players emerge. Stay tuned for updates on these incredible winners as they embark on their new lives with their extraordinary prizes.