Bullseye NZ: How to Play, Odds, Prizes and Draw Times

Bullseye is a daily lottery game run by Lotto NZ in which you try to match a single six-digit number. It launched on 19 October 2009 and sits alongside Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Keno in the New Zealand line-up, but it works very differently from them: instead of matching several balls, you pick one number between 000000 and 999999, and the closer your number lands to the drawn Bullseye number, the bigger your prize. This guide explains how Bullseye works, what a ticket costs, when the draw happens, the exact odds and prize divisions, how to claim a win, and who is allowed to play.

What is Bullseye and how does it work?

Bullseye is a fixed-format “guess the number” game rather than a ball-draw game. You choose one six-digit number from 000000 to 999999 — digits can repeat, and the order matters — and one number is drawn each day as the Bullseye. Match it exactly and you win the jackpot. Miss it and you can still win, because Bullseye pays prizes based on how near your number is to the drawn number across six divisions.

Because there are exactly one million possible six-digit numbers, the chance of an exact match is a clean 1 in 1,000,000. That is far shorter odds than the headline jackpot of a game like Powerball’s odds after the 2026 change, though the Bullseye top prize is capped and much smaller. Bullseye is operated by Lotto NZ, the trading name of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, which runs every official lottery game in the country.

How do you play Bullseye?

Playing Bullseye takes one step: choose a six-digit number, or let the system choose for you. Here is the full process.

• Pick your number. Enter any six-digit number from 000000 to 999999, or select a Quick Pick (also called a Dip) to have the number generated randomly.
• Choose how many entries. You can play a single line or several different numbers on the same ticket; each line is a separate chance at that day’s draw.
• Decide on Advance Play (optional). Enter the same number into 7 or 14 consecutive daily draws in one purchase so you do not have to buy a ticket every day.
• Buy before the cut-off. Purchase in store at an authorised Lotto retailer, online at MyLotto, or through the MyLotto app, up until shortly before the daily draw.

There is no skill element and no “system” to learn. A random Quick Pick has exactly the same chance as a number you choose yourself, so the only real decisions are how many lines to play and whether to use Advance Play.

How much does a Bullseye ticket cost?

A single Bullseye line costs NZD $2.00. Advance Play works out slightly cheaper per draw because you pre-pay for a block of draws:

• Single draw: $2.00 per line.
• 7 consecutive draws (Advance Play): $10.00 per line — effectively about $1.43 a draw.
• 14 consecutive draws (Advance Play): $20.00 per line — effectively about $1.43 a draw.

Advance Play only locks in the same number for more draws; it does not improve your odds on any individual draw. If you want to see how Bullseye pricing compares with the rest of the range, our guide to the full Lotto NZ line-up covers how many numbers you need to win in each game.

When is the Bullseye draw?

The Bullseye draw takes place every day at 6:00pm New Zealand time, and results are published online the same evening. Ticket sales for each draw close shortly before 6:00pm and then reopen for the next day’s draw soon after the numbers are confirmed. Because Bullseye draws every single day, it is one of the most frequent games Lotto NZ offers — unlike Lotto and Powerball, which are drawn only on Wednesday and Saturday nights. For a full rundown of when every game is drawn, see our guide to Lotto draw times.

How do you win Bullseye? Divisions, odds and prizes

Bullseye has six prize divisions, and you win the highest one your number qualifies for. The jackpot needs an exact match; every lower division is decided by how far your number is from the drawn Bullseye number, measured numerically above or below it. The table below shows the winning criteria and the published odds for each division.

Combining every division, the overall chance of winning some prize is roughly 1 in 9.91 — a little better than one ticket in ten. The jackpot (Division 1) and the $10,000 second-division prize are the two biggest fixed payouts; Divisions 3 to 5 split a prize pool, so their exact dollar amount varies from draw to draw depending on how many winners there are; and the lowest division simply returns a free ticket for the next day. You can compare these with the chances in every other game in our breakdown of the odds of winning across Lotto NZ games.

How big is the Bullseye jackpot?

The Bullseye jackpot starts at a guaranteed minimum of NZD $100,000. It is a rolling jackpot, so each day nobody wins Division 1 the top prize grows until it reaches the cap of NZD $400,000. At that point the draw becomes a “Must Be Won” draw.

If no one matches the exact Bullseye number when the jackpot is capped, the prize does not keep rolling over — instead it “rolls down” to the next division that has winners. This is why Bullseye regularly produces large payouts in Division 2 and below: when a $400,000 jackpot rolls down, the players closest to the number can collect far more than the usual fixed amount. In one well-known case a capped Bullseye jackpot rolled down and a single second-division winner took home around $410,000.

How do you check Bullseye results?

Bullseye results are published every evening shortly after the 6:00pm draw. You can check them in several ways:

• Online: the official MyLotto website updates the drawn number the same evening.
• MyLotto app: shows results and can notify you automatically if you have played.
• In store: authorised Lotto retailers display results on screen and can scan your ticket to check it.
• Email/SMS: players with a MyLotto account can receive winner notifications.

Third-party results sites also republish the numbers, but the drawn number and any prize should always be confirmed against an official Lotto NZ source before you treat a ticket as a winner.

How do you claim a Bullseye prize?

How you claim depends on where you bought the ticket and how much you have won. Prizes up to NZD $1,000 can be claimed at any authorised Lotto retailer. Larger prizes require a prize claim form submitted to Lotto NZ, and for bigger wins Lotto NZ verifies the winner’s identity and bank account before paying out. If you played online, winnings are usually credited to your MyLotto account automatically.

• Payout type: prizes are paid as a single lump sum.
• Tax: lottery prizes are not taxed as income — see why lottery winnings are tax-free in New Zealand.
• Deadline: you have 12 months from the draw date to claim before a prize expires.

Who can play Bullseye?

Bullseye is sold only within New Zealand and is not available to players overseas, unlike some other Lotto NZ products. To play online you need a MyLotto account, and account holders must be 18 or over. For in-store purchases, New Zealand has legislated an 18+ minimum age for all Lotto NZ games, which is being rolled out across the network; historically only Instant Kiwi scratch tickets carried a strict age limit. Because the rules are changing, check the current position in our guide to the Lotto age limit rules in NZ before buying on behalf of anyone young.

How does Bullseye compare with other Lotto NZ games?

Bullseye suits players who prefer a daily game with short jackpot odds and a modest, capped top prize, rather than the rare but huge jackpots of Powerball. The table below sets it against the other main Lotto NZ games on the points that matter most.

The key trade-off is clear: Bullseye gives you a daily shot and the best jackpot odds of the group, but the prize is capped at $400,000, whereas Lotto and Powerball can reach into the millions with far longer odds. If a number game with fast, frequent draws appeals to you, you may also enjoy Keno and how it differs from Lotto.

Common mistakes Bullseye players make

Bullseye is a game of pure chance, so the most common mistakes are about expectations and admin rather than tactics.

• Believing “hot” or “cold” numbers improve your odds. Every six-digit number has exactly the same 1-in-1,000,000 chance in each draw. Past results have no effect on future draws, and no number is ever “due”.
• Thinking Advance Play raises your chances. Buying 7 or 14 draws only enters you into more draws; it does not change the odds on any single draw.
• Assuming a wheeling or “system” reduces the odds. Playing more lines simply costs more and gives you more separate chances — it does not beat the maths.
• Letting a winning ticket expire. You have only 12 months to claim, so check daily results and keep your ticket or MyLotto account details safe.
• Relying on unofficial results pages. Always confirm the drawn number against an official Lotto NZ source before discarding a ticket.

The history of Bullseye

Bullseye was introduced on 19 October 2009 as a simpler, lower-cost daily alternative to Lotto and Powerball. Rather than asking players to match several balls, it used a single six-digit number and a proximity-based prize structure, which was unusual for a New Zealand lottery game. The daily draw format and the roll-down jackpot — where a capped top prize cascades to lower divisions — have remained the game’s defining features ever since, giving it a steady following among players who prefer frequent draws and shorter odds over the occasional giant jackpot.

Responsible gambling

This article is factual information about how Bullseye works and is not advice to play or a claim that you can improve your chances of winning. Bullseye is a game of chance: the outcome of every draw is random, and no strategy, number choice or amount of play changes the published odds. Only ever spend what you can comfortably afford to lose, and treat any winnings as a windfall rather than an income.

If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand through the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 (call or text 8006), and through the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. You can also set deposit and spend limits, or take a break, from within your MyLotto account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the odds of winning the Bullseye jackpot?

The odds of matching the exact six-digit Bullseye number and winning the jackpot are 1 in 1,000,000, because there are exactly one million possible numbers from 000000 to 999999. Counting all six divisions together, the chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 9.91.

How much does it cost to play Bullseye?

A single Bullseye line costs NZD $2.00 per draw. Advance Play lets you pre-pay the same number for 7 draws ($10.00) or 14 draws ($20.00), which is slightly cheaper per draw but does not change your odds.

What time is the Bullseye draw?

Bullseye is drawn every day at 6:00pm New Zealand time, and results appear online the same evening. Ticket sales for each draw close shortly before 6:00pm and reopen for the next day’s draw soon afterwards.

What happens when the Bullseye jackpot reaches the cap?

The jackpot starts at $100,000 and grows until it reaches the $400,000 cap, at which point it becomes a Must Be Won draw. If no one matches the exact number, the prize rolls down to the next division with winners rather than rolling over, which can produce unusually large lower-division payouts.

Are Bullseye winnings taxed in New Zealand?

No. Lottery prizes in New Zealand, including Bullseye wins, are tax-free windfalls and are paid as a single lump sum. You have 12 months from the draw date to claim a prize before it expires.