Lotto NZ glossary: Understanding every lotto term in one place

How to use this page

This page gathers in one place the key lotto terms NZ players often see on tickets, results pages or in news stories. Lotto games have their own vocabulary around the numbers drawn, the prizes on offer, and the status of the jackpot. Knowing these terms helps you understand exactly what each result means, or why a jackpot might roll over or roll down. None of these terms imply any strategy or prediction ability, as every draw is random.

The games

New Zealand lotto offers a few games, each with its own rules and odds. It’s important to know what game you are playing, as terms like Powerball and Strike apply specifically to certain games.

• Lotto: The main game where six numbers are drawn from 1 to 40. The odds of winning Division 1, which requires all six main numbers, are 1 in 3,838,380.
• Powerball: An extra ball drawn separately, from 1 to 14 since 13 September 2026 (previously 1 to 10). It adds an extra layer to Lotto and other games. Winning Division 1 with Powerball means matching all six main numbers plus this extra ball, with odds of 1 in 53,737,320.
• Strike: A game where you match the first four main balls in exact order, with odds of 1 in 10,000.
• Keno: You pick up to 10 numbers from 80, and 20 numbers are drawn. Matching all 10 pays at odds of 1 in 8,911,711.
• Bullseye: Requires matching a six-digit number in exact order, with odds of 1 in 1,000,000.
• Instant Kiwi: Scratch cards with fixed odds, sold over the counter rather than drawn.

Knowing the game clarifies what the draw and prize terms apply to.

The draw

Every lotto game has a draw or several draws a week. Understanding draw terms helps you follow how jackpots and results work.

• Draw Days: Lotto draws happen on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can check exact times in the draw times and dates page.
• Bonus ball: A seventh ball drawn from the same main machine (1 to 40) that you don’t pick yourself. It can only upgrade a line that already matches some winning numbers, for example turning three matches into a Division 6 win.
• Rollover: When no one wins Division 1, the jackpot amount carries over into the next draw, making it larger.
• Must Be Won: A special draw where the jackpot cannot rollover again. If no Division 1 winner appears, the jackpot rolls down to the next prize divisions. See Must Be Won draws explained.
• Roll-down: The process where, in a Must Be Won draw, the jackpot is shared among lower prize divisions that do have winners.
• Jackpot cap: For Powerball, the jackpot starts at $4 million and cannot exceed $60 million.
• Hot and cold numbers: Terms used to describe numbers that have appeared more or less often than average in past draws. This is a description of history only, not a prediction.

The prizes

The prize structure is organised into divisions depending on how many numbers you match and whether you have extras like the bonus ball or Powerball. Knowing what each division means helps you understand your winnings.

• Division 1 (Lotto): Match all six main numbers. The odds are 1 in 3,838,380.
• Division 6 (Lotto): Match three main numbers plus the bonus ball. This wins a small cash prize.
• Division 7 (Lotto): Match three main numbers only. Instead of cash, you get a free ticket.
• Powerball Division 1: All six main numbers plus the Powerball. Odds are longer at 1 in 53,737,320.
• Powerball Division 8: Match two main numbers, the bonus ball, and the Powerball. This division was updated on 13 September 2026 to add a fixed $12 prize. See how Powerball Division 8 works.

For details on prize amounts and what each division pays, check what each prize division pays.

• Prize reserve fund: If a prize is not claimed within 12 months of the draw, the money goes into this fund rather than being lost.

The ticket and the claim

Your ticket is your proof of entry into a draw. Some terms relate to how you buy and claim your lotto lines.

• MyLotto: Lotto NZ’s own website and app, the only official ways to buy tickets online.
• Multidraw: Buying the same lines across several consecutive draws in one purchase.
• Bonus ball: It only upgrades a line with some matches; you don’t pick it on your ticket.

Always keep your ticket safe. If you win, prizes must be claimed within 12 months or they go to the prize reserve fund.

For guidance on purchasing tickets, visit where and how to buy.

Summary

This glossary gathers essential lotto terms NZ players encounter, from games like Lotto and Powerball, through draw terms like rollover and bonus ball, to prize divisions and ticket details. Knowing these helps make sense of results without guesswork. Remember that every draw is random and no term or strategy can predict or guarantee a win.

If gambling stops being fun, free support is available from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.