Comparing a ticket line by line against the results is slow and easy to get wrong. Scanning the barcode does it in seconds — and in New Zealand, the tool for that is the official MyLotto app.
This guide covers how to scan a ticket, the other ways to check, and what scanning does and doesn’t do.
What a Lotto scanner is
A Lotto scanner reads the barcode on your physical ticket and checks it against the official draw results. The barcode holds your ticket’s details — the draw, your lines, and a serial code — so the app can confirm instantly whether you’ve won and how much, without you matching numbers by hand.
In New Zealand, that scanner lives inside the MyLotto app, the official app from Lotto NZ. It checks your ticket against Lotto NZ’s live results, which is what makes it reliable and accurate across all ticket types — Lotto, Powerball and Strike — in one place.
How to scan a ticket
The process takes under a minute.
The official Lotto NZ app reads your ticket’s barcode. Download the MyLotto app from the App Store or Google Play, and sign in (or create an account). Find the scan or ticket-checker feature (a barcode or camera icon) and allow camera access. Hold the ticket steady so the barcode sits clearly in the frame. The app reads it automatically. The app checks your ticket against the official results and shows whether it’s a winner and any prize.Scanning a ticket in the MyLotto app
Get the official app
Open the ticket scanner
Line up the barcode
Read the result
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Download the MyLotto app, open the ticket scanner, line up the barcode in the camera, and read the result. If the app can’t read a damaged or folded barcode, you can enter the numbers manually or take the ticket to any Lotto outlet.
The ways to check a ticket
Scanning is the quickest, but it’s not the only option — and all of them draw on the same official results.
All of these use the same official results.Ways to check a paper ticket
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You can scan in the MyLotto app, hand the ticket to any outlet to run through the terminal (or use a self-service kiosk), or simply compare your lines against the published numbers on our Lotto results page. If you bought online, there’s nothing to scan at all — MyLotto checks your entries automatically after each draw, as explained on our Lotto online page.
What scanning does — and doesn’t — do
This is the part that trips people up, so it’s worth being clear.
Scanning checks a ticket — it doesn’t collect the prize.Four things to know about scanning
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Scanning tells you whether you’ve won; it doesn’t collect the prize. You still claim it based on the amount and how you bought the ticket — small prizes are paid at an outlet or credited to your MyLotto wallet, and larger prizes use a Prize Claim Form. Our guide on how to claim Lotto winnings in NZ walks through each level.
You can scan old tickets too, but remember prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the draw date — after that, the barcode is expired. If you’re checking a pile of old tickets, our guide on unclaimed lottery prizes covers what to look for.
Official app versus third-party apps
You may come across third-party “lotto scanner” apps. The key thing to check is where an app gets its data. Only an app connected to Lotto NZ’s official results can give you accurate, up-to-date answers — a scanner that isn’t tied to the source can be delayed or simply wrong.
For New Zealand players, that means the official MyLotto app is the safe default. It scans all three main games, updates in real time with each draw, stores your ticket history, and keeps everything in one account, so there’s little reason to rely on an unofficial alternative. When evaluating any app, the questions worth asking are whether it’s linked to Lotto NZ, whether it covers Lotto, Powerball and Strike, and how it handles your data.
A quick reminder on results
However you check, the result you see reflects the official draw. Winning numbers are drawn on Wednesday and Saturday nights and published straight after, so there’s no need to scan before the results are out. If you’d rather read the numbers than scan, they’re always on our Lotto results page, and our guide on how many numbers you need to win explains what each match is worth.
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 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 I scan a Lotto ticket in NZ?
Use the official MyLotto app: open the ticket scanner, point your phone’s camera at the barcode, and the app checks it against the official results and shows any prize.
How accurate are lotto scanner apps?
Accuracy depends entirely on the data source. The official MyLotto app checks against Lotto NZ’s live results, so it’s reliable. Unofficial third-party apps can be delayed or incorrect.
Can I scan an old ticket?
Yes, you can scan tickets from past draws. Just remember that prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the draw date — after that, the ticket is expired.
Does scanning a ticket claim the prize?
No. Scanning only tells you whether you’ve won. You still need to claim the prize — at an outlet for small amounts, or via a Prize Claim Form and your MyLotto account for larger ones.
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 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 — there’s no barcode to scan.
