Must Be Won Powerball: 5 Common Myths, Busted

Mia here. Whenever a Must Be Won draw is announced, the same handful of myths start circulating — usually the kind that promise more than the rules actually deliver. With tonight's $10 million Must Be Won draw on Saturday 12 September, I want to set the record straight. No hype, just how it works.

Myth 1: "Must Be Won means everyone who buys a ticket wins something."

Fact: No. Must Be Won only guarantees that the jackpot pool is paid out somehow — by cascading down the divisions if Division 1 isn't won. You still need to match the right numbers for whatever division the money lands in. Most tickets still won't win a prize.

Myth 2: "The jackpot is split evenly among all players."

Fact: No. If the money cascades to a lower division, it's shared among the players who actually matched that division's numbers — the same way ordinary dividends work. Winners split the pool; non-winners get nothing.

Myth 3: "You have to buy more tickets to be 'in' the Must Be Won draw."

Fact: No. Any valid Powerball ticket for tonight's draw #2620 is part of it. Whether you buy one line or thirty, you're already in. Buying more lines covers more number combinations but does not change the odds of any single line — Division 1 is about 1 in 53.7 million under the current 14-ball game (it was 1 in 38.3 million before September 2026).

Myth 4: "MyLotto will charge me twice or enter me automatically."

Fact: No. If you play through MyLotto, you choose your entries and pay once. There's no auto-entry into a Must Be Won draw, and your card is charged only for what you buy. Your online tickets are also checked automatically, so you'll be told if you've won.

Myth 5: "A Must Be Won win isn't anonymous / the winner is published."

Fact: No. New Zealand Powerball winners keep the same anonymity rights in a Must Be Won draw as in any other. Lotto NZ does not publish winner identities unless the winner chooses to go public. I've written more about this in Can you stay anonymous if you win Lotto?

The bottom line

A Must Be Won draw is good news for players because the entire jackpot is guaranteed to be paid out — but it's not a free win, and it doesn't tilt the odds in anyone's favour. Play because you enjoy it, keep it affordable, and if you ever need support, Gambling Helpline NZ is free and confidential on 0800 654 655 or gamblinghelpline.co.nz.

Quick reminder: Powerball Division 1 odds are about 1 in 53.7 million and every draw is an independent random event.