West Coast Winning Streak Continues

Media Release

4 October 2004

For Immediate Release

WEST COAST WINNING STREAK CONTINUES WITH MASSIVE $3.5 MILLION LOTTO AND POWERBALL JACKPOT PRIZE

The multi-million Lotto Powerball jackpot and a third share of the Lotto First Division jackpot have been won by a ticket sold at Dennis Bookshop in Westport, New Zealand Lotteries Commission Chief Executive Trevor Hall announced today.

The lucky winner took home a combined total of $3,474,705. Lotto Powerball was worth $3,139,566 and Lotto First Division $335,139.

"Whoever has the ticket should write their name and address on it as a precautionary measure. They should then contact New Zealand Lotteries Commission who can provide advice about the next steps to take." he said.

The huge win is another in an incredible run of luck for West Coaster this winter, said Mr Hall.

"As far as lucky places to buy a ticket, the West Coast seems to be on a roll" said Mr Hall.

In the past six months, prizes going to the West Coast have included;

- Lotto Powerball and Lotto First Division worth $3,474,705 sold at Dennis Bookshop, Westport.

- Greymouth's Gareth Bungard won a VW Golf on the Winning Wheel

- Reefton's Susan Warne won $100,000 on the Winning Wheel

- Hokitika's Sue Griffiths won one of 10 limited edition All Black Ford Falcon XR8s.

- A Westport ticket won a second division prize of $35,388, the largest this year

- A $10,000 Instant Kiwi prize went to Greymouth

- One $1000 Keno prize a piece went to Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika

The West Coast isn't a stranger to big prizes with an $11.5 million Lotto Powerball jackpot prize going there in November 2002. It still stands as the second largest individual prize in New Zealand lottery history. The first Lotto tickets were sold on 22 July 1987 and the West Coast has had its fair share of the total prize pool since then. As of Lotto's 17th birthday on 24 July 2004, a total of 1,335,147 prizes worth $44,854,443 have been won by West Coast Lotto players.

"Lotto prizes aren't the only way that the West Coast wins from playing the game," said Mr Hall. "NZLC's purpose is to provide safe gaming that allows New Zealanders to play and win and contribute money to New Zealand communities."

"We were delighted to transfer funds to the Lottery Grants Board (LGB) who were able to give the West Coast region $739,273 in lottery funding for the year ended 30 June 2004."

This week's other Division One prizes went to tickets sold at Meadowbank Paper Plus in Auckland and Haven Road Store, Nelson. The Nelson ticket is still to be claimed.

Ends

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