Playing Lotto in New Zealand is simple once you know the basics: pick six numbers, decide whether to add Powerball or Strike, and buy before the cut-off. This guide walks a first-time player through the whole thing.
The same steps apply in store and on MyLotto. Choose your own on a coupon, or take a “Dip” and let the terminal pick at random — the odds are the same. A minimum of four lines applies. Add a Powerball number (1 to 10) for the big jackpots, and/or Strike to match the first four balls in order. Draws are Wednesday and Saturday. Buy after 7:30 pm and your ticket goes into the next draw. Six balls plus a bonus ball are drawn live on TVNZ. Powerball and Strike are drawn as part of the same event. Scan your ticket in the app, check at a counter, or check online. You have 12 months to claim any prize.How to play Lotto, step by step
Pick six numbers from 1 to 40
Add Powerball or Strike (optional)
Buy before 7:30 pm on draw night
Watch the draw
Check and claim
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The basics of a Lotto ticket
Lotto is New Zealand’s most popular game of chance. To play, you choose six numbers from 1 to 40. In the draw, six main balls are drawn from those 40, followed by a bonus ball.
You can pick your own numbers on a coupon, or take a Dip and let the terminal choose at random — either way, the odds are identical. One rule to know upfront: a coupon has a four-line minimum, so the cheapest custom Lotto ticket is four lines at $0.70 each, which is $2.80. You can buy in store at any authorised outlet or online through MyLotto. For the full breakdown, see our guide to Lotto ticket prices in NZ.
The three games: Lotto, Powerball and Strike
Powerball and Strike are optional add-ons that sit on top of a Lotto ticket.
Powerball and Strike are optional add-ons to a Lotto ticket.The three main games
Game You pick Per line Top prize Lotto 6 numbers from 1–40 $0.70 $1 million (Division 1) Powerball Lotto line + 1 Powerball (1–10) +$0.80 Multi-million jackpot Strike 4 numbers, in the right order $1.00 Jackpot from $200,000
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Lotto is the base game — match all six main numbers to win Division 1. Powerball is where the huge jackpots come from: you add one extra number (currently from 1 to 10) for $0.80 a line, and you need at least three main numbers plus the Powerball to win anything. Strike is a separate game where you pick four numbers and must match the first four main balls in the exact order they’re drawn. For more on Powerball, see our Powerball NZ guide.
One important change to be aware of: from 13 September 2026, Powerball is drawn from 14 balls instead of 10, so you’ll pick a number from 1 to 14, and a new Division 8 is added. The price to play doesn’t change.
When the draws happen
Lotto, Powerball and Strike are drawn twice a week — Wednesday and Saturday — and broadcast live on TVNZ. The single most important time to remember is the 7:30 pm sales cut-off: buy after that and your ticket rolls into the next draw. Our Lotto draw times guide has the full schedule.
How the draw actually works
Here’s a point worth correcting, because it’s widely misunderstood: New Zealand’s Lotto draws are not run by a computer or random number generator. They’re physical ball draws.
The winning numbers are drawn using numbered-ball machines at the TVNZ studios in Auckland. Lotto NZ uses two draw machines, and the machines and ball sets are kept under lock between draws. Independent scrutineers from Audit New Zealand attend every draw — including the daily games that aren’t televised — and there’s a technical rehearsal with unnumbered balls followed by a dress rehearsal with numbered balls before the live draw. It’s a deliberately physical, observable process, which is what lets players trust the result.
The prize divisions
You don’t need to match all six numbers to win. Lotto has seven divisions, and the more numbers you match, the higher the division.
In short: six numbers wins Division 1; five plus the bonus ball is Division 2; five is Division 3; four plus the bonus is Division 4; four is Division 5; three plus the bonus is Division 6; and three numbers is Division 7 — the most common win. The bonus ball only lifts you into the even divisions (2, 4 and 6); it can’t complete Division 1, which needs six main numbers. For the full table with odds and what each division pays, see our guide on how many numbers you need to win Lotto.
Choosing your numbers
People spend a lot of energy on “systems” for picking numbers. It’s worth knowing that none of them change your odds.
Every combination has exactly the same chance.Choosing numbers: myths vs reality
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Because the draw is physical and each draw is independent, the machine has no memory. “Overdue” numbers aren’t due, “hot” numbers aren’t primed, and a sequence like 1-2-3-4-5-6 is exactly as likely as any random-looking spread. Every combination has the same 1 in 3,838,380 chance at Division 1. The only genuinely rational tweak doesn’t improve your odds at all: choosing some numbers above 31 means that if you win, you’re less likely to share the prize, since so many people play birthdays (1–31). For the full probability picture, see the odds of winning Lotto in NZ.
Checking results and claiming
After the draw, there are a few easy ways to check. Scan your ticket with the MyLotto app, check the Lotto results online, or take it to any outlet to run through the terminal. Online entries are checked automatically. Our Lotto scanner guide explains how scanning works.
If you’ve won, keep the ticket safe and sign the back — a paper ticket is a bearer document. Prizes up to $1,000 are paid on the spot (or credited to your MyLotto wallet); larger prizes use a Prize Claim Form. You have 12 months from the draw date to claim. There’s a full walkthrough in our guide on how to claim Lotto winnings in NZ.
Playing responsibly
Lotto is designed as low-cost entertainment, and it’s best treated that way — not as an investment or a way to solve money problems. The odds of the top prize are very long no matter how big the jackpot gets.
A sensible approach is to set a weekly amount before the jackpot is announced and keep it fixed, avoid buying extra lines just because a jackpot has rolled over, and only ever use money that’s surplus to rent, bills and essentials. If you play online, you can set a hard spending limit on your account. And if it ever stops feeling like fun, free and confidential support is available at any hour.
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 method improves your odds. Rules, prices, ranges and draw details 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
How do you play Lotto in NZ?
Pick six numbers from 1 to 40 (a minimum of four lines), optionally add a Powerball number or Strike, and buy your ticket before 7:30 pm on a Wednesday or Saturday. Then check the results after the draw.
How many numbers do you pick?
Six main numbers from 1 to 40 per line. In the draw, six main balls plus a bonus ball are drawn.
Are the winning numbers chosen by a computer?
No. NZ Lotto, Powerball and Strike are drawn using physical numbered-ball machines at the TVNZ studios, with independent scrutineers from Audit New Zealand present at every draw.
What’s the difference between Lotto, Powerball and Strike?
Lotto is the base game (six numbers). Powerball adds one extra number (1 to 10, becoming 1 to 14 from 13 September 2026) for the big jackpots. Strike is a separate game where you match the first four balls in the exact order drawn.
Can I pick my own numbers or are they random?
Either. You can choose your own on a coupon or take a random “Dip.” The odds are exactly the same either way.
Do “hot” or “overdue” numbers improve my chances?
No. Each draw is independent and the machine has no memory, so past frequency doesn’t predict future draws. Every combination has the same odds.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
Twelve months from the draw date. Prizes up to $1,000 are paid on the spot or credited to your MyLotto wallet; larger prizes use a Prize Claim Form.
