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Is the Lotto NZ website and app ready to handle the 'unprecedented demand'?

Saturday, 29 February 2020

After Wednesday night's lotto numbers were drawn, some customers reported having issues with the Lotto NZ app and My Lotto website.

Even before the draw there were issues, with high traffic stopping some from being able to purchase tickets.

On Saturday, the jackpot is making history with $50 million up for grabs. But if you're not organised enough to purchase your tickets at a shopfront or online before Saturday's 7.30pm cut off, then you might face some trouble.

Lotto NZ's head of communications and corporate social responsibility Marie Winfield put the technical issues down to the 'unprecedented demand' they were experiencing.

On Saturday, the jackpot is making history with $50 million up for grabs. But if you
On Saturday, the jackpot is making history with $50 million up for grabs. But if you're not organised enough to purchase your tickets at a shopfront or online before Saturday's 7.30pm cut off, then you might be in trouble.

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After Wednesday
After Wednesday's lotto draw customers had trouble accessing the Lotto NZ app and checking their tickets.

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'We're doing everything we can to limit issues, but with the high volumes of sales expected to go through MyLotto over the next few days, we can't guarantee that there won't be some delays.'

Lotto hopefuls were encouraged to purchase their tickets early to 'avoid the last minute rush'. Ticket sales were expected to spike from 5pm Saturday.

Delays after the draw were also expected.

'With so many people logging onto MyLotto to check their tickets delays are likely - we're really sorry!'

Winfield said they had never had so many people using the site at once.

On Wednesday, app users received an error message blaming a 'technical error' for its inability to check tickets.