Lotto fever breaks out in the south as jackpot grows to $38 million

Lotto tickets are flying out of stores across Otago as the Powerball prize jackpots to $38 million in tonight's Big Wednesday draw. Photo / Michael Bradley

Lotto tickets are flying out of stores across Otago as the Powerball prize jackpots to $38 million in tonight's Big Wednesday draw.

Caversham Four Square owner Richard Shum said ticket sales had been high at his store since the $30m Powerball prize was not struck last Saturday.

"It's been very busy - twice as busy as normal.

"It brings out the people that don't usually buy tickets. They try their luck."

He said it was ironic that so many people were buying tickets when he had a customer who still had not claimed a $200,000 prize after winning first division in the October 14 draw.

"Someone's already rich and they don't know it."

Paper Plus Oamaru shop assistant Janine Jamieson said many of those buying tickets were hoping tonight would be the night their lives would change forever.

"A lot were also saying they thought the $38 million should be split up into smaller prizes and shared among more people.

"They're saying all that money for one person is too much, but I'd have fun trying to spend it anyway."

Ryder's Stationery Balclutha manager Kelley Loper said she had noticed an increase in ticket sales, mostly because regulars were buying several tickets instead of just one.

"They're trying to increase their chances of winning - very much so."

Alexandra New World owner Kevin Ryan had also noticed a definite increase, and predicted if Powerball was not won tonight, tickets would fly out the door.

"A lot of people come in when it reaches the higher level.

"Because we haven't really got the holidaymakers in yet, it's just the locals buying tickets. It's probably half as busy again for us, maybe a bit more.

"But it will probably end up being double by Saturday if it doesn't go tonight.

"Saturday still seems to be the big day for us, rather than the Wednesday, because we have a lot of out-of-towners coming in."

Whitcoulls Remarkables manager Kelly Wilson said she had put a staff member on fulltime at the Lotto counter today to keep up with the increased demand.

She hoped the $38m would go tonight. Otherwise the store would only get busier in the build-up to this Saturday's Lotto draw.

"It's going to be pretty full-on."

If the prize is not won, it will continue jackpotting until it reaches $50 million.

At that point, it must be won.