Lotto frenzy stretches demand for ticket paper

Saturday, 29 February 2020

Parents worry big lottery wins could end up turning their children lazy. (Video first published February 2020)

Tonight's $50 million Lotto draw has created unprecedented demand for rolls of yellow paper to print out the tickets.

Ticket sales are projected to exceed $2 million, with courier companies around New Zealand busy delivering ticket rolls to outlets so they can cope with what is expected to be Lotto's busiest day ever.

Lotto head of communications and corporate social responsibility Marie Winfield said already four times more ticket paper had been rolled out in February compared to the same month last year.

Yellow paper is in high demand to fuel Lotto dreams.

'What Lotto NZ physically sells is a piece of paper, but with that comes a dream – a chance to win, a chance to change your life and the lives of those around you.'

The $42 million Lotto jackpot has been eclipsed by tonight's $50m draw.

* 30 years of Lotto in NZ: Your chances of winning the big one

* Lotto tickets in hot demand as players vie to win record $40 million**

The $50m jackpot must be won tonight.

If no single ticket wins Powerball First Division, the prize pool rolls down to the winners in the next highest division.