Learning how to play New Zealand’s number games is simpler than it first looks. This guide explains, in plain language, how Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Keno each work — the numbers you choose, what a line costs, how the draws are run and how you win — so that a first-time player and a regular both know exactly what they are buying. All four games are run by Lotto New Zealand (formally the New Zealand Lotteries Commission), and every figure below reflects the rules in force after the Powerball changes that took effect on 13 September 2026.
Quick Facts
- Operator: Lotto New Zealand (New Zealand Lotteries Commission)
- Games covered: Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Keno
- Lotto: pick 6 numbers from 1–40, minimum 4 lines, $0.70 per line
- Powerball: add-on, 1 number from 1–14, +$0.80 per line (from 13 Sep 2026)
- Strike: add-on, 4 numbers in exact order, $1 per play
- Keno: pick 1–10 spots from 1–80, 20 drawn, $1–$100 per play
- Draw days: Lotto/Powerball/Strike on Wed & Sat ~8pm; Keno four times daily
- Ticket validity: 12 months from the draw date
- Tax: all prizes paid tax-free in New Zealand
How Lotto works in New Zealand
Lotto is the core game, and the other three are built around it. To play one line of Lotto you choose six numbers from 1 to 40. A single line costs $0.70, and a standard entry must contain at least four lines, so the cheapest Lotto ticket is $2.80. You can pick your own numbers or buy a Lucky Dip, where the terminal or app chooses random numbers for you.
At each draw, six winning numbers plus one Bonus Ball are drawn from the 40. You win a prize by matching the winning numbers on a single line of your ticket — the numbers do not have to be in any particular order. For the full cost breakdown, see our guide to Lotto ticket prices.
The seven Lotto prize divisions
Lotto has seven prize divisions, so you do not need all six numbers to win something. Matching just three numbers wins the lowest division. The Bonus Ball upgrades some divisions — for example, five numbers plus the Bonus Ball beats five numbers alone. The table below shows what each line match wins.
- 6 numbers — Division 1 (the top prize, usually starting around $1 million)
- 5 numbers + Bonus Ball — Division 2
- 5 numbers — Division 3
- 4 numbers + Bonus Ball — Division 4
- 4 numbers — Division 5
- 3 numbers + Bonus Ball — Division 6
- 3 numbers — Division 7 (four free Lucky Dip lines)
Division 1 is shared equally among all winning lines in a draw. The old ‘guaranteed weekly millionaire’ was dropped in 2004, so if no one matches all six numbers the Division 1 pool can roll over (jackpot) to the next draw. For the odds and typical payouts behind each tier, read our breakdown of the Lotto prize divisions and exactly how many numbers you need to win.
Adding Powerball to your ticket
Powerball is an optional add-on to a Lotto ticket, not a separate game. For an extra $0.80 per line you add one Powerball number, drawn from a separate machine. If a line wins any Lotto division and also matches the Powerball, it jumps to the matching Powerball division, which pays far more. You cannot play Powerball without first buying Lotto.
The Powerball jackpot (Division 1) is won by taking out Lotto Division 1 and matching the Powerball on the same line. It starts at a minimum of $5 million and rolls over each draw until it is won. If it reaches the $60 million cap it becomes a ‘Must Be Won’ draw: if no line matches everything, the prize rolls down to the next division that has winners.
What changed on 13 September 2026
On 13 September 2026 the Lotto Amendment Rules 2026 reshaped Powerball. The Powerball number is now drawn from 1 to 14 instead of 1 to 10, the starting jackpot rose from $4 million to $5 million, and the cap rose from $50 million to $60 million. A new Division 8 was added, paying a fixed $12 for matching the Powerball alone, and Division 7 rose from $15 to $20. The trade-off is longer odds: the top prize now sits at roughly 1 in 53,737,320 per line, up from about 1 in 38.4 million. See the full table in our guide to the odds of winning Powerball.
Playing Strike
Strike is a second optional add-on to a Lotto ticket, and order is everything. You pay $1 per play and choose four numbers from 1 to 40. To win the top prize, Strike Four, your four numbers must match the first four Lotto numbers drawn in the exact order they come out. Lower prizes reward fewer numbers in the right position.
- All 4 numbers in the correct order — Strike Four
- Any 3 numbers in the correct order — Strike Three
- Any 2 numbers in the correct order — Strike Two
- 1 number in the correct order — Strike One
The Strike Four jackpot starts at a minimum of $200,000 and grows by at least that amount each draw until it is won. It stops growing once it reaches $1.5 million or after ten draws without a winner, at which point it must be won. Because the exact order is required, Strike Four is harder to land than it looks — the odds are about 1 in 2,193,360.
How Keno works
Keno is a fast daily number game that feels like a cross between Lotto and bingo. Instead of a fixed six numbers, you choose how many numbers to play. You pick between 1 and 10 numbers — called ‘spots’ — from a pool of 1 to 80. The game then draws 20 numbers at random, and your prize depends on how many of your spots match. If you would rather compare the games side by side first, see how Keno, Housie and Lotto differ.
Picking your spots and reading the result
The more spots you play, the bigger the potential payout but the harder it is to match them all. A 10-spot ticket that matches all 10 numbers pays the top Keno prize — up to $250,000 on a $1 play — while shorter tickets win smaller, more frequent prizes. The maximum total paid out on any single Keno draw is capped at $1 million. You can pick your own spots or use a Quick Pick for random numbers.
Keno draw times and the Multiplier
Keno is drawn four times every day, at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm (New Zealand time), which is why you can play several games in a single day. Each play costs between $1 and $100, so you set your own stake. For an extra charge you can add the Keno Multiplier, a separate number drawn right after the main draw that multiplies your non-jackpot winnings (the top prize is not multiplied).
Comparing New Zealand’s number games
The four games differ in how many numbers you pick, how often they are drawn and how big the prizes are. The comparison below puts the key facts in one place so you can see which game matches the kind of play you want.
Game Comparison
| Game | What you pick | Draw frequency | Cost | Top prize / odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto | 6 numbers from 1–40 (min 4 lines) | Wed & Sat | $0.70 per line | Division 1 from ~$1m; 1 in 3,838,380 per line |
| Powerball | Lotto line + 1 number from 1–14 | Wed & Sat | +$0.80 per line | $5m–$60m jackpot; 1 in 53,737,320 |
| Strike | 4 numbers from 1–40 in exact order | Wed & Sat | $1 per play | Strike Four $200k–$1.5m; 1 in 2,193,360 |
| Keno | 1–10 spots from 1–80 | 4 times daily (10am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm) | $1–$100 per play | Up to $250,000 on a $1 play (10 from 10) |
How to buy a ticket: in store, online and on the app
You can buy any of these games two ways. In store, visit an authorised Lotto retailer — supermarkets, dairies and bookshops across New Zealand — and fill in a coupon or ask for a Dip. Online, you buy through the MyLotto website or the official app after setting up an account and adding funds. The MyLotto app lets you pick numbers, save favourites, buy Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Keno, and scan a paper ticket to check it.
Lotto, Powerball and Strike are drawn on Wednesday and Saturday nights, with the Saturday draw televised around 8pm and the Wednesday draw around 8:20pm on TVNZ 1. Sales for a draw close at 7:30pm on draw night, so buy earlier in the day to be safe. There is no minimum age to buy most Lotto NZ products today, although Instant Kiwi scratch tickets are 18+ and an 18+ rule for all games is scheduled for early 2027.
Checking results and claiming a prize
Checking your numbers is the step most new players rush. You can check results on the MyLotto website and app, at any retailer’s self-service checker, or by having staff scan your ticket. If you bought online, winnings are added to your MyLotto account automatically and you will usually get a notification.
For paper tickets, prizes up to $1,000 can be claimed from the retailer, while larger prizes and jackpots are claimed through Lotto New Zealand with photo ID and a completed claim form. Tickets are valid for 12 months from the draw date, and Lotto and Powerball winnings are paid tax-free in New Zealand. Our step-by-step guide explains how to claim your winnings at every prize level.
Common mistakes new players make
Most beginner mistakes cost money or a prize, not just confusion. Avoiding them is the easiest way to play smarter.
- Thinking Powerball or Strike is a separate ticket. Both are add-ons to a Lotto line; you must buy Lotto first.
- Ignoring the exact order in Strike. Matching the right four numbers in the wrong order wins nothing in the top tier.
- Chasing ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ numbers. Every number has an equal chance in every draw; past frequency does not change future odds.
- Letting a ticket expire. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 12 months, so check every ticket promptly.
- Buying after the cut-off. Sales close at 7:30pm on draw nights; a late purchase simply enters the next draw.
Which game suits which player
The right game depends on how often you want to play and how much risk you enjoy. Lotto on its own is the cheapest, most familiar option and still pays seven divisions. Adding Powerball chases the big headline jackpots for a modest extra cost, at much longer odds. Strike appeals to players who like a single, order-based bet with its own growing jackpot. Keno suits people who want quick, frequent draws and full control over how many numbers and how much they stake. None of the games can be beaten with a system — they are all games of chance — so the best choice is the one you find fun within a budget you have set in advance.
Responsible gambling and disclaimer
This article is general information about how New Zealand’s lottery games work; it is not advice to play and makes no promise of winning. All of these games are based on chance, and no strategy, number pattern or system changes the odds of any draw. Only ever spend money you can afford to lose, and treat any prize as a bonus rather than an expectation.
If gambling is causing stress for you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655, 24 hours a day. Lotto New Zealand also offers spend limits and self-exclusion tools through a MyLotto account.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does it cost to play Lotto in New Zealand?
One Lotto line costs $0.70 and a standard ticket needs at least four lines, so the cheapest Lotto entry is $2.80. Adding Powerball costs an extra $0.80 per line and Strike costs $1 per play, so a single line with all three add-ons comes to $2.50.
What is the difference between Lotto, Powerball and Strike?
Lotto is the base game where you match six numbers from 1 to 40. Powerball is an add-on where you also match one number from 1 to 14 to boost a winning Lotto line into a much larger prize. Strike is a separate add-on where you pick four numbers that must match the first four Lotto numbers drawn in the exact order.
How many numbers do you need to win a prize?
In Lotto you win the lowest division, Division 7, by matching just three of the six numbers on a single line, which pays four free Lucky Dip lines. Matching more numbers moves you up through the divisions to the Division 1 jackpot for all six.
How often is Keno drawn and how many numbers do you pick?
Keno is drawn four times a day, at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm. You choose between 1 and 10 numbers (spots) from a pool of 1 to 80, and the game draws 20 numbers each time; your prize depends on how many of your spots match.
Are Lotto and Powerball winnings taxed in New Zealand?
No. Prizes from Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Keno are paid as tax-free lump sums in New Zealand. You only need to think about tax later if the winnings go on to earn income, such as interest in a bank account.