Exciting Changes Happening to Lotto

26 July 2004

Exciting Changes Happening to Lotto

Lotto is about to have its biggest overhaul since the start of the game 17 years ago to add excitement and make it easier to play, New Zealand Lotteries Commission Chief Executive Trevor Hall announced today.

Mr Hall says that from 8 August the refreshed Lotto game will feature:

" Equally shared First Division: In response to player demand Guaranteed Millionaire is being removed. First Division will now be at least a million dollars every week and be shared evenly between winners. It will jackpot when not won.

" Second Division prize increased: Second Division winners will win about five times more than under our current prize structure, from an average of $4,000 to an average of $20,000.

" Better Sixth Division Prizes: The prize for winning Sixth Division will increase from the current $10 to an average of $24.

" Prizes in all other divisions will also increase.

" A new price of 60c per line for Lotto (from 50c): This means a Lucky Dip will now cost $6 rather than $5, a Power Dip $11 rather than $10 and a Triple Dip $13 rather than $12. The minimum entry point to the game will be $2.40 for four lines.

" There will only be one Bonus Ball, not two. Removing the second Bonus Ball allows us to increase the 6th Division prize from the current $10 to an average of $24.

" An exciting new live game feature. This will give every Lotto ticket holder another chance to win a million dollars, or other great prizes, each week.

Mr Hall says the price increase - the first for Lotto since the game started in New Zealand in 17 years ago - is necessary to be able to reward players with better prizes.

"The minimum entry point to the game will be $2.40 for four lines of Lotto, ensuring the game remains accessible to all New Zealanders."

He says the exciting new live game feature being introduced to Saturday's Lotto draw will give every Lotto ticket holder another chance to win a million dollars, or other great cash and non-cash prizes, each week.

"We're launching this exciting new live feature on the draw in early August and we are confident it will have huge appeal to our players."

"We want Lotto to continue to be a game that excites players and offers worthwhile prizes. By increasing the price, we can reward players with better prizes, and give every Lotto player another chance to win a million dollars every week through the new game feature.

"Improving the game will keep people playing, meaning we can continue to return well in excess of $100 million back to New Zealand communities every year."

He says the game revamp is in response to feedback from Lotto players and retailers and addresses concerns they have expressed about the complexity of the current game and the value of lower division prizes.

A major advertising campaign was launched today to explain the changes to the almost one million Kiwis who play Lotto every week.

"We have already shared these changes with our national retail network of more than 640 stores. They have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we're doing which gives us confidence that players will also welcome these changes," says Mr Hall.

ENDS

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