Lotto has some last minute advice for punters in the lead up to tonight’s $50 million must-win draw.
A banner on the MyLotto website appeared this afternoon which read: “High demand after the must be won draw could delay you checking your ticket.
“If you are eager to check your numbers, please take a screenshot of your ticket.”
Lucy Fullarton, Lotto’s head of corporate communications, told 1News the average Kiwi spends about $20 to $30 on Lotto per week, although this is expected to rise tonight.
Around 2 million tickets are expected to be sold.
On Wednesday, Lotto’s $43 million jackpot brought in about 1.7 million ticket sales before it rolled over.
The must-win draw has raised Lotto’s expectations on how many tickets will be sold before tonight, with around 2 million tickets expected to be purchased.
Fullarton told 1News Lotto sees higher ticket sales towards the final hours before the draw, but suggested people “get in early” to avoid lines at the counter, or online wait times.
Lotto has hit the $50m jackpot twice in its history, both in 2020.
Fullarton said both times, the prize was split between people who shared a ticket.
This means tonight, if one person wins, it could be New Zealand’s largest ever Lotto win.
Kiwis in awe of the draw
Speaking to 1News today, ticket buyer Marge said the amount of money is “too much for one person”.
“It should be split into many parcels. However, depending on the age of the person who actually wins it, it could in actual fact bring them sadness instead of joy.
“It’s too much to handle … who do you give a share to? You want to give to the needy, you want to give to the homeless, people in everyday life that are struggling. It’s such a big parcel.”
On previous wins, Marge said some time ago she and a friend split a ticket which won $700.
“We shared.”
Another ticket buyer had a similar sentiment about the large prize pool.
“Two to three [million] would be nice, but [$50 million] is just ridiculous.”
![Another punter told 1News the prize pool is "ridiculous".](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/another-punter-told-1news-the-prize-pool-is-ridiculous-A43SREIT5RAP5HRPL3JNP6VJ7U.jpg?auth=e86d9d870dceb4817ed2f71c00689725682ecf7a53afb26835814427d860ae50&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=805%2C453)
He told 1News the winner would have to think “seriously” about what they wanted to do with the money.
“You’d go la la for a while, but I think you’d come round. I would anyway.”
Fullarton earlier advised buyers should keep their win a secret while they process the massive win.
On the advice, the hopeful winner said if he won, he’d be able to keep it a secret, but his daughters would potentially know by seeing his “silly grin”.
“There’s all these old stories isn’t there, of people who won the pools in England years ago and lost the lot in about six months and burned through it.”
He said the sensible thing would be to “not do any of those things”, but joked there’s no telling how someone could react after the big win.