Matching a lottery ticket against the draw results by hand is slow and easy to get wrong. Scanning the barcode does the same job in seconds, and in New Zealand the tool for that is the official MyLotto app from Lotto NZ. This guide explains how ticket scanning works, the other ways to check a ticket, and — just as importantly — what a scan does and does not do.
What a Lotto scanner is
A Lotto scanner reads the barcode printed on your physical ticket and checks it against the official draw results. The barcode stores your ticket’s details — the draw it belongs to, your number lines and a serial code — so an app can confirm instantly whether the ticket has won and how much, with no manual number-matching.
In New Zealand that scanner lives inside the MyLotto app, the official app published by Lotto NZ. Introduced in 2014, it checks your ticket against Lotto NZ’s live results, which is what makes it reliable across every product in one place: Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Instant Kiwi scratch tickets. The core draw games it covers — Lotto (drawn from 40 numbers), Strike and Powerball, all decided by physical ball machines — are summarised on Wikipedia — Lotto New Zealand (matrix, Strike, physical draws).
How to scan a ticket in the MyLotto app
The whole process takes under a minute.
How to scan a ticket
- Get the official app. Download MyLotto from the App Store or Google Play and sign in, or create a free account.
- Open the ticket scanner. Tap the scan or ticket-checker option on the home screen (a barcode or camera icon) and allow camera access.
- Line up the barcode. Hold the ticket steady so its barcode sits inside the frame on screen; the app reads it automatically.
- Read the result. The app compares your ticket with the official draw results and shows whether it won and any prize amount.
If the app cannot read a damaged or folded barcode, you can type the numbers in manually or take the ticket to any outlet. For a fuller look at the app itself — accounts, results alerts and buying entries — see our guide to the MyLotto app.
Other ways to check your ticket
Scanning is the quickest option, but it is not the only one — and each method draws on the same official results.
Ways to check a ticket
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scan in the MyLotto app | Your phone camera reads the barcode and checks Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Instant Kiwi against the official results. | Fast checking of paper tickets at home |
| At a Lotto outlet | Staff, or a self-service kiosk, run the ticket through the store terminal. | No app on hand, or a barcode that won’t scan |
| Check the numbers by hand | Compare each line against the published winning numbers. | A torn or faded barcode |
| Online entries | Tickets bought on MyLotto are checked automatically after each draw; small prizes go to your wallet. | Anyone who plays online — nothing to scan |
If you would rather read the numbers than scan, they are always published on our Lotto results page. And if you bought your entry online there is nothing to scan at all — MyLotto checks your lines automatically after each draw, as explained on our Lotto online page.
What scanning does — and doesn’t — do
This is the point most people get wrong, so it is worth stating plainly: scanning tells you whether you have won; it does not collect the prize. You still claim any win based on the amount and how you bought the ticket.
- Prizes under NZ$1,000 are paid at any Lotto outlet, or credited to your MyLotto wallet for online entries.
- Prizes of NZ$1,000 or more require a Prize Claim Form submitted with photo ID and your bank details.
Our guide on how to claim Lotto winnings in NZ walks through each level. You can also scan tickets from past draws, but every prize must be claimed within 12 months of the draw date; after that the entry expires and the money goes to Lotto NZ’s prize reserve. If you are working through a pile of old tickets, our guide to unclaimed lottery prizes covers what to look for.
How the draws and results work
However you check, the answer you see reflects the official draw. Winning numbers are drawn on Wednesday (from 8:20pm) and Saturday (from 8:00pm) nights and published straight after, so there is no need to scan before results are out. The draws use physical ball machines overseen by independent scrutineers, as described in the Lotto NZ FAQ — draws use physical ball machines with Audit NZ scrutineers.
One recent change is worth noting because the scanner also checks Powerball: from 13 September 2026, Powerball is drawn from 14 balls rather than 10. That lengthened the jackpot odds to about 1 in 53.7 million per line, lifted the starting jackpot to NZ$5 million and the cap to NZ$60 million, and added a new Division 8 paying a fixed NZ$12 — full detail is on the operator’s page, Lotto NZ — Powerball changes from 13 September 2026, and in our own explainer on Powerball NZ.
Official app versus third-party scanners
You may come across third-party “lotto scanner” apps. The single thing that matters is where an app gets its data: only a scanner connected to Lotto NZ’s official results can give an accurate, up-to-date answer, while one that is not tied to the source can be delayed or simply wrong.
For New Zealand players that makes the official MyLotto app the safe default. It scans every main game, updates in real time with each draw, stores your ticket history and keeps everything in one account. When weighing up any alternative, the questions worth asking are whether it is linked to Lotto NZ, whether it covers Lotto, Powerball and Strike, and how it handles your personal data.
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. Apps, features and rules change — always confirm the current details with Lotto New Zealand at mylotto.co.nz before relying 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, confidential 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
- Lotto NZ — Scan a ticket (MyLotto app)
- Lotto NZ — Manual ticket check
- Lotto NZ — checking tickets, claiming and the 12-month rule
- Lotto NZ — Lotto Rules 2025 (PDF)
- NZ Herald — Powerball changes from 13 September 2026
- The Treasury — New Zealand Lotteries Commission
- Safer Gambling Aotearoa
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand
Vanliga frågor (FAQ)
How do I scan a Lotto ticket in NZ?
Use the official MyLotto app: open the ticket scanner, hold your phone’s camera over the barcode until it sits inside the on-screen frame, and the app checks it against the official results and shows any prize.
Can I scan an old ticket, and is there a deadline?
Yes, you can scan tickets from past draws. Just remember that every prize must be claimed within 12 months of the draw date — after that the ticket expires and the win can no longer be collected.
Does scanning a ticket claim the prize?
No. Scanning only tells you whether you have won. You still claim the prize separately: at an outlet or via your MyLotto wallet for amounts under NZ$1,000, or with a Prize Claim Form, photo ID and bank details for NZ$1,000 or more.
What if the barcode won’t scan?
If a ticket is torn, faded or folded the scanner may not read it. Enter the numbers manually in the app, or take the ticket to any Lotto outlet to check it on the store terminal.
Do I need to scan a ticket I bought online?
No. Online entries on MyLotto are checked automatically after each draw and small prizes are credited to your wallet, so there is no barcode to scan.
