Lotto Combo Prices in NZ: Costs for Every System Entry

Buying a combo entry — what Lotto New Zealand officially calls a System entry — is one of the most misunderstood ways to play the Wednesday and Saturday draws. A combo lets you put more than the usual six numbers on a single line, and the terminal then builds every possible six-number combination from your picks. Because you are really buying many standard lines at once, the price climbs fast, so knowing the exact Lotto combo prices in NZ before you pay helps you pick a size that fits your budget. This guide explains how combos work, what each size costs with and without Powerball, why they can win several prizes at once, and the mistakes to avoid.

What is a Lotto combo (System) entry in New Zealand?

A Lotto combo entry is a single line on which you choose 7 to 15 numbers instead of the standard six, and the computer then generates every valid six-number combination from the group you picked. New Zealand’s official Lotto Rules call these products System 7 through System 15, which is why you will see the terms “combo” and “system” used interchangeably. Each combination the terminal creates is one ordinary Lotto line, so a combo is really a bundle of standard lines printed on one ticket.

There is no “Combo 5” or “Combo 6”: because every Lotto line needs six numbers, the smallest combo is a System 7 (seven numbers). Lotto NZ also sells a random version called a ComboDip, where the computer picks your numbers for you rather than letting you choose them, but the pricing works the same way.

How many numbers can you choose, and how many lines do you get?

The number of lines a combo creates is the mathematical count of six-number combinations that can be drawn from your selection. Adding a single extra number increases the line count sharply, which is why prices jump so quickly between sizes. For example, choosing eight numbers produces 28 lines, while choosing ten numbers produces 210 lines. The full breakdown appears in the price menu below.

Does a combo entry improve your odds of winning?

No. A combo does not change the odds of any individual line. Every single line — whether it comes from a combo, a Dip or a hand-picked standard ticket — has the same chance as any other: 1 in 3,838,380 for Lotto Division 1 per line, and, since the 13 September 2026 Powerball changes, 1 in 53,737,320 for Powerball Division 1 per line. What a combo does is buy a large number of lines clustered tightly around your chosen numbers, which improves your chance of landing smaller, overlapping prizes if several of your numbers come up. It does not make the jackpot likely.

How are Lotto combo prices in NZ calculated?

Lotto combo prices are worked out with one simple formula: the number of lines generated multiplied by the price of a line. A standard Lotto line has cost $0.70 since April 2017, so a Lotto-only combo costs the line count × $0.70. The price is identical whether you buy a paper coupon at a retailer or play through the MyLotto website or app. (A standard, non-combo ticket has a four-line minimum of $2.80, but every combo already exceeds that.) For a wider look at base costs, see our guide to standard Lotto ticket prices.

Full combo price menu (System 7 to System 15)

The table below shows the line count and price for every combo size, both for Lotto on its own and with Powerball added to every line (explained in the next section).

How much does a Lotto Combo 8 cost in NZ?

A Lotto Combo 8 costs $19.60 without Powerball. Choosing eight numbers produces exactly 28 six-number lines, and 28 × $0.70 = $19.60. With Powerball added to all 28 lines the price becomes $42.00. The Combo 8 is a common mid-size choice because it gives broad coverage of a favourite group of numbers for under twenty dollars, with no manual line-writing. For a detailed breakdown of how a Combo 8 pays out across the divisions, see our dedicated Lotto Combo 8 cost guide.

What do Lotto combos cost with Powerball and Strike added?

Adding Powerball lifts a combo’s price because the add-on applies to every line, not just one. Powerball costs $0.80 per line, so a line that carries both Lotto and Powerball costs $1.50. You cannot attach Powerball to only some of a combo’s lines — it goes on all of them — which is why a Powerball Combo 8 jumps from $19.60 to $42.00 (28 × $1.50), and a Powerball Combo 10 jumps from $147.00 to $315.00 (210 × $1.50). The with-Powerball column in the table above shows every size.

Since the 13 September 2026 changes, Powerball is drawn from a pool of 1 to 14, the jackpot starts at $5 million and is capped at $60 million, and a new Division 8 pays a fixed $12 for matching two main numbers plus the Bonus Ball and the Powerball. The per-line price of $0.80 was not changed by the update.

Strike is a separate game rather than a combo option. You pick four numbers from 1 to 40 and must match them in the exact order they are drawn as the first four Lotto balls. Strike costs $1.00 per line and can be played on its own or alongside a Lotto or combo ticket, but it is not multiplied across a combo’s lines the way Powerball is.

Why can a combo ticket win several prizes at once?

A combo can win multiple prizes from a single draw because its lines overlap and share your chosen numbers. In a standard four-line ticket, matching some numbers wins on at most one or two lines. In a combo, the same matched numbers appear across many of the generated lines at the same time, so one good result can trigger wins in several divisions simultaneously. Lotto NZ’s divisions range from Division 1 (all six numbers) down to Division 7 (any three numbers), which pays four bonus lines; you can read more in our overview of Lotto prize divisions.

A worked Combo 8 example

Suppose you buy a Combo 8 and exactly four of your eight numbers are drawn as main numbers (and your other four are not). Those four winning numbers appear in a predictable spread of the 28 lines:

• Six Division 5 results: six of the lines contain all four winning numbers plus two of your non-winning numbers, so each matches four numbers (Division 5). Division 5 is a shared-pool prize that varies each draw but has recently averaged around $30, so this cluster is worth roughly $180 on a typical draw.
• Sixteen Division 7 results: sixteen lines match exactly three of the winning numbers (Division 7), and because Division 7 pays four bonus lines, that adds up to 64 bonus lines toward a future draw.

The exact prizes depend on the draw and on whether the Bonus Ball falls among your numbers, so treat this as an illustration of how overlap works rather than a fixed payout. Lower-division Lotto prizes are shared pools and change from draw to draw.

Are big combos worth it for syndicates?

Large combos are mainly bought by syndicates because the cost runs into hundreds or thousands of dollars. A System 11 is $323.40 and a System 12 is $646.80 before Powerball, so pooling money lets a workplace or family group share a high-coverage ticket without any one person overspending. If you run a pool, put the arrangement in writing first: Lotto NZ recognises only the single person who holds the ticket or the MyLotto account as the legal owner of any prize, so the group relies on a clear agreement about shares. Our guide to Lotto syndicate rules covers how to set one up safely.

How do Lotto combos compare with other NZ games?

Combos are only one way to play. The table below compares the main New Zealand number games so you can see where system entries fit.

Keno runs on a faster, separate schedule with several draws every day and its own price scale, so it suits a different play style from the twice-weekly Lotto draws. You can track outcomes on our Keno results pages.

Common mistakes to avoid with combo tickets

• Thinking a combo improves the odds. It only buys more lines; each line still has the same long odds, and no number pattern can influence a random draw.
• Underestimating the price jump. Costs rise steeply with each extra number — a System 10 ($147) is about 2.5 times a System 9 ($58.80), and a System 12 is over $640. Check the line count before you commit.
• Adding Powerball without doing the math. Powerball applies to every line, so it can more than double a large combo’s price.
• Running a syndicate with no written agreement. Only the ticket-holder is the legal owner, so informal pools can lead to disputes.
• Chasing losses with bigger combos. Stepping up from a System 7 to a System 11 after a losing draw increases spending, not your real chance of a jackpot.

Buying, claiming and tax on combo tickets

You can buy a combo at any Lotto retailer — dairies, supermarkets and service stations — or through the MyLotto website and app, at the same price either way. Keep your ticket or account details safe, because physical tickets must be claimed within 12 months of the draw date before the prize is forfeited. New Zealand lottery prizes are paid out in full: lottery prizes are tax-free in New Zealand, as they are treated as windfall gains rather than income. When you play online, smaller prizes are usually credited to your MyLotto account automatically, while larger wins follow a secure claim process.

Responsible Play and the Fine Print

Lotto combos are a form of gambling, and the information above is factual rather than advice to buy a ticket. You must be 18 or over to buy any Lotto NZ product. Every line in a combo carries the same long odds as a standard line, so buying more lines costs more money but does not make a win likely, and no system, pattern or number-picking method can influence a random draw. Only ever spend money set aside for entertainment — never money meant for rent, food, bills or savings. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006, and through responsible gambling resources such as Choice Not Chance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Lotto combo (System) entry in New Zealand?

It is a single line on which you choose between 7 and 15 numbers, and the terminal then builds every possible six-number combination from them. Lotto NZ officially calls these System 7 to System 15 entries, and “combo” is the everyday name for the same thing.

How much does a Combo 8 cost, with and without Powerball?

A Combo 8 costs $19.60 on its own. Eight numbers create 28 lines, and 28 multiplied by the $0.70 line price is $19.60. Adding Powerball to all 28 lines at $1.50 per line brings the total to $42.00.

Do combo tickets improve your chances of winning?

No. A combo does not change the odds of any individual line; it only buys more lines around your chosen numbers. Each line still has the same chance as any other, and the draw is completely random.

Can I buy a combo online through MyLotto?

Yes. Combo entries can be bought on the MyLotto website and app as well as at Lotto retailers, at the same price. Online prizes are usually credited to your account automatically, with larger wins following a secure claim process.

How long do I have to claim a prize from a combo ticket?

Physical tickets must be presented and validated within 12 months of the draw date, after which the prize is forfeited. Because lottery prizes in New Zealand are treated as windfall gains, winnings are paid out tax-free.