Half a million more Lotto tickets than usual are expected to be sold this week as punters chase an $18 million Powerball jackpot.
Although the Lotteries Commission declined to say how much extra money it received from increased sales, the most popular ticket was the Powerball combo, costing $11.
About 1.3 million tickets are expected to be sold.
Lotto spokeswoman Kate Richards said the Powerball jackpot, combined with the first division prize, could see a lucky winner pocket $19 million.
She said about 500,000 extra tickets were bought on weeks when there was a huge prize at stake.
About 800,000 Lotto tickets were bought every week.
Powerball could go as high as $30 million before it terminated, and was increasing by $2 million a week.
Newtone Drycleaners Ltd South Dunedin branch spokeswoman Kirby Mackay said there was a noticeable increase in Lotto ticket buyers, with most favouring the $11 Powerball combo ticket.
People were talking about the huge prize on offer, she said.
In May 2006, Auckland couple Geoff and Helen Henderson won $18 million, including a $17.7 million Lotto Powerball jackpot.
Mr Henderson, told the Herald on Sunday they had bought a house, a couple of boats, paid off their children's mortgages, and taken a cruise, travelling first class.
He recommended any winners should wait at least a few weeks before making any big decisions, but to buy something immediately for fun. He had bought orange driving gloves.
He said money did not buy happiness, but it gave a "real absence of worry'', and the opportunity to be with grandchildren as they grew up.
