Lotto’s $10 million must-be-won draw went ahead on Saturday night in the final outing for the game’s current 10-ball format before a major shake-up takes hold this week.<\/p>\n
The winning numbers were 4, 38, 26, 40, 3, and 29. The Bonus Ball was 27 and the Powerball was 7.<\/p>\n
Lotto NZ chief innovation and product officer Ben Coney said the lottery boosted this weekend’s jackpot to $10 million specifically to clear the prize pool<\/a> before the game’s overhaul.<\/p>\n “With a big prize pool up for grabs, we expect plenty of Kiwis will want to get in on the action.”<\/p>\n If no one won Division 1, the prize would have rolled down to be shared among winners in the next division.<\/p>\n Saturday’s draw marked the end of an era for Powerball, with the game moving to a 14-ball format from September 16<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lotto NZ said the change will produce a bigger maximum jackpot of $60 million, though mathematicians have noted it will make winning the top prize harder than ever.<\/p>\n MyLotto and Lotto distributors shut their sales systems from 7.30pm on Saturday to allow time for the system upgrade.<\/p>\n A new top prize of $60m – but a mathematician explains why it’s never been harder to win. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n Services including the ticket-checker set to fully return on Sunday morning, when players can buy tickets for next Wednesday’s draw under the new format.<\/p>\n