Auckland's Luckiest Lotto Shops
If you want to win lotto, it seems like Manukau is the place to buy your ticket. Figures released today by the Lotteries Commission showed Manukau is home to two of the country's three luckiest shops, with Manukau Pak 'n Save selling the most prizes for the second year in a row.
The outlet on Cavendish Dr sold more than 80,000 Lotto and Big Wednesday divisional prizes last year worth almost $1 million.
Manukau City Lotto was revealed as the third-luckiest in terms of the number of prizes sold, with more than 60,000 winners and $835,000 in prizes, according to the figures.
Over $400 million was won in prizes last year, with 224 first division prizes won around the country.
The year's fourth-equal biggest collect was also in Auckland, with just over $12 million claimed by one punter at Hari Superette in Papatoetoe in August.
While Auckland might be home to some of the country's luckiest lotto stores it seems we're not as lucky as other regions.
The figures released today show which areas have benefitted the most from lotto wins per capita, and no Auckland areas cracked the top 10.
NZ Lotteries acting chief executive Warren Salisbury said Tararua topped the list, with an average of $1044 claimed per person.
"A $17 million Powerball win from Dannevirke New World obviously upped the stakes for the region, but there were 27 Lotto and Strike second division winners, and remarkably there were two Winning Wheel winners from Dannevirke too," Salisbury said.
Grey, Otorohanga, Whakatane, Kapiti Coast, South Wairarapa, Tasman, Rotorua, Mackenzie, and Hamilton City rounded out the top 10.
Compared with Tararua's good fortune, Auckland was some way behind.
A total of $111 was paid out per person in Rodney, while Papakura came in at number 14 on the list at $98 per person, Manukau City at 15 with $97, Auckland City at 26 with $69, North Shore at 28 with $66 and Franklin at number 50 with $52.
Waitomo was last at $20 per person.
