Powerball has soared to a massive $33 million tonight, exactly the same jackpot amount as was won by a Christchurch couple just under a year ago in June 2023.

At the time, the couple waited more than a week to claim their prize because they needed time to process the “magnitude of their win”. While they waited, they stashed their ticket in a sock drawer for safekeeping.

The woman had checked the ticket on the night of the draw and remembers the numbers ‘dancing on the paper,’ as she read the final line.

“I couldn’t breathe at first – I was almost hyperventilating,” said the woman at the time.

Since their win, Powerball has been won a further 14 times, creating new multi-millionaires across the motu.

Lotto NZ Head of Corporate Communications Lucy Fullarton said she is often asked what the ‘luckiest’ place to buy a ticket is.

“While many people have their favourite store or special numbers, the truth is the odds are exactly the same no matter where or how you buy your ticket. It could be online or in-store, and you could use regular numbers or buy a dip ticket. There’s nothing you can do to increase your chances – Lotto is about having fun and joining the excitement.

“Because of this, we encourage customers to spend only a little, and to only buy a ticket if their entertainment budget allows,” she says.

Lucy says Lotto NZ connects with all big winners as soon as they claim their prize, to give them the support and advice they need to process such a lifechanging event. She says usually the first thing winners think about is how they can help loved ones.

“We know winning has a huge ripple effect and most, if not all, our big winners tell us they plan to share their winnings with family, friends, people in their local community and charities close to their hearts.”

If tonight’s Powerball jackpot and the $1 million Lotto first division prize are won by a single ticket, it will be the fifth largest prize ever won in Lotto NZ history.

Lucy recommends that anyone who wants to be in to win for tonight’s draw gets their ticket early to avoid the busiest times instore and online.

“As the jackpot climbs, there is more demand for our games. We know stores will be busy from around 5pm today, and lots of people will also be jumping online to grab their ticket in the hour before sales close at 7.30pm. Our advice is to get in early and avoid the rush.”

Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes, run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board. Find out more about some of these important community initiatives.