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"Time to tune it up": Lotto overhaul motivated by NZ's growing population, CEO says

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 25 Mar 2026, 9:08am
Photo / File
Photo / File

"Time to tune it up": Lotto overhaul motivated by NZ's growing population, CEO says

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 25 Mar 2026, 9:08am

Lotto's changing things up for the first time in 19 years.  

It's increasing prizes and adding four new Powerballs, which means the odds of winning Division One plummet from one in more than 38 million to about one in almost 54 million.  

The top prize is also jumping from $50 million, to $60 million. 

CEO Jason Delamore told Mike Hosking the game changes every few years and it’s time for a tune up. 

He says they’re adjusting the game to match the size of New Zealand’s population, which has increased by 1.1 million since their last adjustment. 

“You have to keep tuning the game to keep it up to speed.” 

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