Photo: RNZ/Cole Eastham-FarrellyChanges coming for Lotto will make it less likely that people will win the big prize - but more likely they'll collect a small one. Lotto will also add a "division eight" prize, raise the starting Powerball jackpot from $4 million to $5m, and increase the maximum jackpot from $50m to $60m. We expect its introduction will lift the total number of weekly Powerball winners by 30 percent, from about 47,000 winners to 62,000 winners on average." But what you're selling when you're selling a Lotto ticket is you're selling hope. People are already prioritising Lotto tickets over feeding their kids and these changes will only make it worse."

Source: Otago Daily Times March 24, 2026 04:33 UTC