To play New Zealand Powerball, you must first take part in the NZ Lotto game. Powerball is an optional add-on which cannot be played separately to Lotto. Find out here how to play Lotto and then how to play Powerball NZ as well.
Lotto works as its own game, with six numbers drawn from 1 to 40, followed by a Bonus Ball. You then need to add a Powerball number from a separate set of 1 to 10 for each line of Lotto numbers you’re playing.
Each line of Lotto numbers costs NZ$0.70, and it’s an additional NZ$0.80 to add Powerball, taking the total cost of every line to NZ$1.50. Draws take place every Wednesday at 8.20pm New Zealand Standard Time and every Saturday at 8pm.
Lotto and Powerball can be played online or via authorised retailers throughout New Zealand. Just follow the steps below to take part and add Powerball to your Lotto game:
When selecting your numbers, there are three different ways to play. You can pick your own numbers or opt for a Dip, where your Lotto and Powerball numbers will be generated for you at random. When playing a Dip, you just have to choose how many lines you want to enter. The third option is to create a Favourite, so that you can just repeat your selection every time you buy a ticket.
When draws take place, two different machines are used. Six Lotto numbers are drawn from a pool of 40, plus a Bonus Ball from the remaining 34 balls. This combination forms the main NZ Lotto game. The Powerball is then drawn from a separate pool numbered from 1 to 10, so it is possible for the same number to appear as both a Lotto ball and the Powerball.
Ticket sales close at 7:30pm New Zealand Standard Time on draw days, and all prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the draw taking place. Unclaimed prizes are returned to the prize pool to be used in future games and promotions.
If you’re playing Lotto without Powerball, you need to match at least three out of the six main numbers to win a prize. To win the jackpot, you need all six.
To win the Powerball jackpot, you need to match all six main Lotto numbers plus the Powerball. There are also six other ways to win if you match the Powerball. Visit the Prizes page to find out what you can win.
A Bonus number is drawn in every Lotto draw. However, you do not need to select a Bonus number when you enter Lotto or Powerball. Instead, the objective is to match the Bonus with one of your six chosen Lotto numbers to increase the size of your prize.
For example, if you choose the line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 on your ticket, and the six main winning numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, you would win the Division 3 prize for matching five of them. If the Bonus number 6 is then drawn – matching the final number on your ticket – you would be bumped up to the Division 2 prize for matching five numbers plus the Bonus. You could then match the Powerball on top of this, further increasing the value of your prize.
As well as NZ Lotto and Powerball, there is a third game, known as Strike, that is interconnected. In Strike, you have to predict the order in which the first four Lotto numbers will appear in the draw. You can add Strike to a Lotto or Powerball ticket for $1.
New Zealand Powerball is not only available to players in New Zealand, as you can take part from anywhere in the world by playing online. You just need to select your numbers, fill out as many entries as you like and complete your purchase. Your numbers will be entered into the draw and you can win all the same prizes as anyone participating in New Zealand. You don’t even have to travel to the country to pick up your winnings, as the money will be paid straight into your online account. Go to the Buy Tickets page for more information.
