Powerball Jackpots To Estimated $10 Million

Media Release 24 August 2005

For Immediate Release

POWERBALL JACKPOTS TO ESTIMATED $10 MILLION

The Lotto Powerball jackpot has hit double figures with a lucky player having the chance to win more than $10 million in this weekend's Lotto draw, says New Zealand Lotteries Commission (NZ Lotteries) Chief Executive Trevor Hall

"Lotto Powerball is the long-odds game with huge prizes that Kiwis love to play, especially when it reaches double digits. It's totally unpredictable, and could go at any time," he says.

"With Powerball jackpotting to an estimated $10 million and $1 million on offer in Lotto's First Division, there's potentially $11 million up for grabs by a single player this weekend.

"If someone hits the big one this Saturday and takes home Powerball and Lotto First Division it would be the fourth biggest prize for an individual ticket holder that NZ Lotteries has ever paid," says Mr Hall.

It would be the third huge prize won by an individual ticket holder in the past 12 months. A Wellington player had the Christmas present of their life when they won $9.9 million in the 2004 Christmas Day draw.

In June this year a ticket bought in Napier won its lucky owner a $12 million prize, the second biggest ever for an individual ticket holder, and in February a rugby sevens fan scooped a cool $6.5 million on a ticket bought in Wellington.

The largest Powerball prize ever won by an individual ticket was $14,763,254, won in April last year on a ticket bought in Kawerau. An $11.4 million prize, the third biggest ever, went to a ticket bought in Hokitika in November 2002.

"It doesn't happen that often, but when Powerball jackpots to these levels, it's truly a life-changing experience," says Mr Hall.

"That's why we see sales start to increase as more and more people want to be in with the chance to change their lives forever."

"It's great for our customers and great for New Zealand, as the more tickets we sell, the more we are able to return to the community. In the past year we've given more than $120 million to the Lottery Grants Board for distribution to arts, cultural, sporting and community organisations."

ENDS

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