The short answer: you need to match at least three of the six main numbers on a single line to win anything. Match all six and you take Division 1.
Between those two points sits a seven-tier structure, and your ticket doesn’t need to be perfect to return a prize.
This guide walks through exactly what each match is worth, how the bonus ball fits in, what Powerball adds, and how Strike works differently. For the pure probability behind each tier, see our companion guide to the odds of winning Lotto in NZ.
How the draw is structured
Each draw, six main balls are drawn from a pool of 40, followed by one bonus ball from the remaining 34.
To win a prize, the required numbers all have to land on the same line of your ticket. The computer checks each line separately — you can’t combine matches from different lines. And the order the balls come out doesn’t matter for standard Lotto.
Every division, and what it takes
Lotto has seven divisions. The fewer numbers a tier needs, the easier it is to hit — and the smaller the prize.
All matches must be on the same line. Three main numbers is the minimum to win.What you win, by numbers matched
Division You match Odds/line Prize 1 6 numbers 1 in 3,838,380 $1 million (may be shared) 2 5 + bonus 1 in 639,730 Large cash, varies 3 5 numbers 1 in 19,386 Cash, varies 4 4 + bonus 1 in 7,754 Cash, varies 5 4 numbers 1 in 485 Small set cash 6 3 + bonus 1 in 363 Small set cash 7 3 numbers 1 in 35 Free tickets
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The top prize, Division 1, is set at $1 million each draw and is shared if more than one ticket wins. The middle divisions pay pari-mutuel cash prizes — shared pools that change with each draw’s ticket sales — so the exact amounts vary. The lowest tier, Division 7, pays a small set prize, typically free tickets for the next draw. For the exact current amounts, check the prize breakdown on our Lotto results page after any draw.
Matching three numbers
Three main numbers is the entry point — and the most common winning experience for anyone playing a multi-line Dip.
If your line has three main numbers and misses the bonus ball, you win Division 7: a small set prize, usually free tickets for the next draw. Add the bonus ball to those three main numbers and you move up to Division 6, a small cash prize.
At 1 in 35 for Division 7, a ten-line ticket will fairly regularly return a free-ticket prize, which quietly extends the life of a play budget without ever being a way to come out ahead.
Matching four or five numbers
Four main numbers lifts you into the mid-tier cash pools.
Four main numbers without the bonus ball wins Division 5 (a small set cash prize). The same four with the bonus ball jumps you to Division 4, a larger pari-mutuel amount that varies by draw.
Five main numbers wins Division 3; five plus the bonus ball wins Division 2 — the tier just below the jackpot. Both are meaningful cash prizes, and both are pari-mutuel, so the figure depends on how many others share the pool that night.
The bonus ball, clearly
The bonus ball causes more confusion than any other part of the game, so it’s worth being precise.
A seventh ball drawn after the main six. It only lifts you into certain divisions.How the bonus ball works
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The key point: the bonus ball is a modifier, not a substitute. It can lift you from one division into a higher one (into Divisions 2, 4 or 6), but it can never stand in for a missing main number — and it plays no part in Division 1. Match five main numbers plus the bonus ball and you’ve won Division 2, not the jackpot. Only six main numbers wins Division 1.
What Powerball adds
Powerball creates a parallel, higher-value set of divisions on top of the standard ones.
You add one number from a separate machine (currently 1 to 10) for an extra $0.80 per line. If your line matches a standard Lotto division and holds the correct Powerball on the same row, your prize is upgraded to the matching Powerball division.
Each Powerball division is simply the equivalent Lotto division made ten times harder — so Powerball Division 1 (all six main numbers plus the Powerball) is 1 in 38,383,800, and Powerball Division 7 (three main numbers plus the Powerball) is 1 in 352. One catch worth knowing: with Powerball you need at least three main numbers plus the Powerball to win anything. Matching the Powerball alone wins nothing. For how it’s played and priced, see the Powerball NZ guide and our page on Powerball ticket prices.
There’s a change coming that affects the Powerball side directly. From 13 September 2026, the Powerball is drawn from 14 balls instead of 10, so you’ll pick a number from 1 to 14. A new Powerball Division 8 is added, giving the Powerball game eight tiers. The jackpot cap rises from $50 million to $60 million, while the odds of Powerball Division 1 lengthen to about 1 in 53.7 million. The standard Lotto side is unchanged.
Strike: a different kind of matching
Strike is a separate game, and it works on a completely different principle: order matters.
A separate $1/line game. Position matters — the order the balls are drawn counts.Strike: matching the first four balls in order
Tier You match Prize Strike 4 All 4, exact order Jackpot from $200,000 Strike 3 3 in correct positions $800 Strike 2 2 in correct positions $80 Strike 1 1 in correct position A free Strike line
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You pick four numbers, and to win you have to match the first four main balls in the exact order they’re drawn. Matching all four in order wins the top Strike prize — a rolling jackpot that starts at $200,000. Matching three, two or one in their correct positions pays $800, $80, or a free Strike line respectively. Strike costs $1.00 per line and, since 2017, can be played on its own.
Claiming what you match
How you collect depends on the amount, not the number of balls.
Prizes of $1,000 or less are paid on the spot at any Lotto NZ outlet (cash or EFTPOS), or credited automatically to your MyLotto wallet if you played online. Prizes over $1,000 use a Prize Claim Form and are paid to your bank account. All prizes, however small, must be claimed within 12 months of the draw. There’s a full walkthrough in our guide on how to claim Lotto winnings in NZ. And whatever you win, it’s tax-free — the amount allocated to your division is the amount that reaches you.
A word on number choice
A common belief is that certain patterns are “smarter” to play. Mathematically, that’s not quite right — but there’s a grain of truth worth keeping.
Every combination of six numbers has the exact same 1 in 3,838,380 chance. A sequential line like 1-2-3-4-5-6 is no less likely than any scattered spread; the machine has no memory or sense of pattern. So picking “unusual” numbers doesn’t improve your odds.
What it can do is reduce how much you’d share a prize. Because so many people play birthdays (numbers 1 to 31), choosing some numbers above 31 means that if you do win, you’re less likely to split the prize with a crowd. It changes the payout you’d receive, not your chance of winning it.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only. It does not encourage anyone to gamble, buy lottery tickets, or spend money on any product, and it is not financial, legal or professional advice. Lottery games are games of chance with a negative expected return, and no number selection, pattern or purchase channel improves your odds of winning. Prize structures, divisions, odds and rules change — always confirm the current details with Lotto New Zealand at mylotto.co.nz before acting on anything here.
You must be 18 or over to buy or claim lottery products in New Zealand. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free 24/7 support is available from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006, from Safer Gambling Aotearoa, and from PGF Services on 0800 664 262. Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs.
Sources used to research and fact-check this article. Last checked 13 August 2026.Reference sources
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FAQ
What’s the minimum number of matches to win a prize?
Three of the six main numbers on the same line. That wins Division 7, which pays a small set prize (typically free tickets for the next draw).
What do I win for matching 3 numbers?
Three main numbers without the bonus ball wins Division 7 (usually free tickets). Three main numbers plus the bonus ball wins Division 6, a small cash prize.
What do I win for matching 4 numbers?
Four main numbers without the bonus ball wins Division 5 (a small set cash prize). Four main numbers plus the bonus ball wins Division 4, a larger pari-mutuel amount that varies by draw.
Does the bonus ball help win Division 1?
No. Division 1 needs all six main numbers, full stop. The bonus ball only lifts you into Divisions 2, 4 or 6 — match five main numbers plus the bonus ball and you’ve won Division 2, not the jackpot.
How many numbers do I need for the Powerball jackpot?
All six main numbers plus the correct Powerball on the same line — odds of 1 in 38,383,800. From 13 September 2026 the Powerball is drawn from 14 balls, lengthening that to about 1 in 53.7 million.
What if I match only the Powerball?
Nothing. You need at least three main numbers as well as the Powerball to win a Powerball prize. On its own, the Powerball pays nothing.
Are Lotto winnings taxed?
No. Prizes from official Lotto NZ games are tax-free, so the amount allocated to your division is the amount you receive. This is general information, not tax advice.
