Lotto NZ has announced significant updates to its flagship Powerball game, marking the first major matrix change in nearly two decades. The changes are designed to increase the number of prize divisions and improve the likelihood of winning across most tiers, while also delivering larger jackpots.
A key adjustment will see the number of Powerballs in the draw machine rise from 10 to 14. This shift enables the introduction of a new Powerball Division 8 and supports broader changes to prize structures. Alongside this, the starting jackpot will increase from $4 million to $5 million, while the maximum jackpot will climb from $50 million to $60 million.
Lotto NZ chief executive Jason Delamore said the updates are aimed at keeping the game appealing for players. “The new Powerball Division 8 is a gamechanger. We expect its introduction will lift the total number of weekly Powerball winners by 30%, from about 47,000 winners to 62,000 winners on average.
“While we look forward to sending more prizes back to players every draw, we want to be upfront that Powerball Division 1 will be won less frequently due to the greater number of possible line combinations in each draw.”
The odds of winning Division 1 will shift from about one in 38.4 million to one in 53.7 million per line. As a result, jackpots are expected to roll over more often, leading to larger prize pools when they are eventually won.
Delamore said the changes reflect how lotteries evolve over time. “Powerball had just eight balls when we launched in 2001. The jackpot started at $1 million and topped out at $15 million.
“We’ve made tweaks to the game in 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2017, so the current gap since the last update has been longer than usual.”
He added that the latest updates strike a balance between innovation and familiarity. “We’re really happy that we’ve managed to retain what people love about Powerball, while making a few refinements along the way.
“Furthermore, the price to play the game will remain unchanged.”
The changes are expected to take effect in the second half of 2026. Lotto NZ said it has considered gambling harm in the redesign process. “We have undertaken a range of activities, including customer research, speaking to expert stakeholders, engaging with individuals with lived experience of gambling harm, and modelling the way the changes could affect purchasing by different customers.”
Delamore said the updates will also support community funding. “This change to Powerball will help support consistent and predictable returns back to a wide range of causes, including grassroots sports, cultural groups and health organisations.”