Strike is the game-within-the-game — a Lotto add-on where becoming a winner comes down to one tough extra challenge: getting the order right. It’s the reason a Strike Four win can turn an ordinary ticket into a six-figure prize.
This guide explains how Strike works, the four ways to win, the odds, and what winners actually take home.
What Strike is
Strike is an add-on to New Zealand’s main Lotto draw. Instead of picking separate numbers, you’re predicting the first four main balls in the exact order they’re drawn. Introduced in 1993, Strike costs $1 per line and, since April 2017, can be played on its own rather than only as an attachment to a Lotto ticket.
That “exact order” requirement is what makes Strike distinctive — and much harder than regular Lotto, where order doesn’t matter at all.
Regular Lotto doesn’t care about order. Strike does.Why order is everything in Strike
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Get the right four numbers in the right four positions and you win the top prize, Strike Four. Have the right numbers but in the wrong slots, and it’s no win — which is exactly why the odds are steep.
The four ways to win
Strike has four prize tiers, based on how many of the first four balls you match in their correct positions.
Match the first four Lotto balls in the exact order drawn.Strike’s four prize tiers
Tier Match (in order) Odds Typical prize Strike Four All 4 1 in 2,193,360 Jackpot from $200k Strike Three Any 3 1 in 15,232 ~$668 Strike Two Any 2 1 in 274 ~$67 Strike One Any 1 1 in 11 A free line
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Matching all four in order is Strike Four, at odds of about 1 in 2,193,360. Matching any three in their correct positions is Strike Three (around 1 in 15,232), any two is Strike Two (around 1 in 274), and a single correctly-placed number is Strike One (around 1 in 11), which pays a free line. The lower-tier cash amounts are averages and move around from draw to draw. For how this fits alongside the main game, see our guide on how many numbers you need to win Lotto.
The Strike Four jackpot
Strike Four is where the real money is, and it behaves like a mini-jackpot of its own.
The essentials at a glance.Strike jackpot & play facts
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It starts at $200,000. If nobody matches all four in order, it rolls over and grows draw by draw. It can roll for up to ten draws, and can climb to around $1.5 million — at which point a “Must Be Won” draw pays it out (if no one strikes all four, the prize flows down to the next tier with winners). That’s how New Zealand has seen record Strike prizes well beyond the starting figure. You can add up to 20 Strike lines to a single ticket at $1 each, and Strike is drawn twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, alongside the main Lotto draw.
What Strike wins look like
Strike Four winners typically collect anywhere from the $200,000 starting jackpot up to seven figures when the prize has rolled over, and wins come from both in-store tickets and online play through MyLotto. Rather than list specific winners — which quickly go out of date — we keep a verified, running round-up of the biggest Lotto wins in NZ, which includes notable Strike and Powerball prizes.
If you do win, the process is the same as any Lotto prize: smaller amounts are paid at any outlet or credited to your MyLotto wallet, and larger prizes are handled through a Prize Claim Form and paid to your bank account. There’s a full walkthrough in our guide on how to claim Lotto winnings in NZ. And as with all NZ lottery prizes, Strike winnings are paid tax-free.
How to add Strike to your ticket
Adding Strike is simple. On a coupon or in the MyLotto app, choose Strike, then either pick four numbers (from the same 1–40 range as Lotto) in the order you think they’ll be drawn, or take a Dip and let the terminal choose for you. Each line is $1, on top of any Lotto and Powerball lines. Our Lotto ticket prices guide breaks down the full cost, and how to play Lotto in NZ covers the basics of a ticket.
One thing worth remembering: because the draw is a physical, random event, there’s no way to predict the order the balls will fall. Strike is pure chance, and no system improves your odds — it’s an extra bit of excitement, not a strategy.
Playing responsibly
Strike is designed as low-cost entertainment layered on top of Lotto, and it’s best treated that way. The long odds on Strike Four mean it should never be seen as a way to make money.
Set a budget before you play and stick to it, resist adding extra Strike lines just because a jackpot has rolled over, and only ever use money that’s surplus to essentials. If you play online you can set a hard spending limit, 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 method improves your odds. Prizes, 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 14 August 2026.Reference sources
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FAQ
How do you win Lotto Strike in NZ?
You match the first four main Lotto balls in the exact order they’re drawn. Matching all four in order wins Strike Four; matching three, two or one in their correct positions wins the lower tiers.
How much is the Strike jackpot?
Strike Four starts at $200,000 and rolls over if it isn’t won, growing draw by draw. It can reach around $1.5 million, at which point a “Must Be Won” draw pays it out.
What are the odds of winning Strike Four?
About 1 in 2,193,360 — the toughest Strike tier, because the numbers must be in exact order. The lower tiers are far more likely: roughly 1 in 15,232 for Strike Three, 1 in 274 for Strike Two, and 1 in 11 for Strike One.
How much does Strike cost?
$1 per line. You can add up to 20 Strike lines to a ticket, and since April 2017 you can play Strike on its own rather than only alongside Lotto.
Do I pay tax on a Strike win?
No. Lottery winnings in New Zealand, including Strike prizes, are paid out tax-free. (Interest later earned on the money can be taxable.)
Can I improve my chances of winning Strike?
No. The draw is a random physical event, so there’s no way to predict the order of the balls and no system that improves your odds. Strike is purely a game of chance.
