Lotto: Two winners in Auckland split record $50 million Powerball
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Two players from Auckland have split the record-breaking $50 million Lotto Powerball jackpot.
They will each take home $25,111,111 for winning Division 1 after Saturday night's hotly-anticipated draw.
The winning tickets were sold at Countdown Manukau City Mall in Auckland and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.
'Kiwis all over the country have been dreaming what they would do if they won Powerball and now two lucky players are about to find out,' said Marie Winfield, Head of Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility at Lotto NZ.
'The champagne is on ice and we are ready to celebrate with New Zealand's newest big winners.'
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The $50 million is the largest Powerball jackpot in history.
Previously, $44 million was the record. That prize was won by a young couple on the Hibiscus Coast in 2016.
The record prize was put up for grabs after $42m rolled over on Wednesday night, as no-one had a winning ticket.
Tonight’s winning numbers are 4, 18, 27, 25, 32 and 28. Bonus ball 37. And, of course, the all important Powerball number is… Powerball 3. Good luck everyone!
— Lotto New Zealand (@Lotto_NZ) February 29, 2020
Saturday night's winning numbers were 4, 18, 27, 25, 32 and 28. Bonus ball was 37 and the power ball was 3.
The night's Lotto draw was a Must Be Won draw, which meant if no single ticket won Powerball First Division, the prize pool would roll down to the next highest division and the money would be shared amongst those winners.
It's the first time Powerball has reached a Must Be Won draw since November 2016.
Lotto handed out numerous other prizes on Saturday night besides the record jackpot.
Seven other people won a $111,111 share of Lotto First Division, having bought winning tickets in Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Levin, Tapanui and Balclutha.
In Saturday's Strike Must Be Won Draw, the $1 million jackpot was shared by three players, each taking home $333,333.
Their winning Strike tickets were sold at Blagdon Four Square in New Plymouth, Milton Night n Day in Milton and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.
In Lotto's second division, 39 people each won $26,117.
Eight lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $35,771.
Anyone who bought a winning ticket from a store is asked to write their name on the back of the ticket and check it immediately at any Lotto outlet, online at mylotto.co.nz or through the Lotto NZ App.