Store loses 'luckiest' title but waiting for a winner

Bayfair Lotto may not be in the top five luckiest stores, but they are still busy. PHOTO/FILE

Tauranga's claim to hosting one of New Zealand's luckiest Lotto stores has been dashed but staff at Bayfair Lotto are not terribly worried.

"We might not be in the top five but we get the big wins," said sales assistant Jennifer Sharplin.

"We are due a winner. We are pretty positive we will get one soon."

Lotto yesterday released the top five winning outlets throughout the country.

Hastings' Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy was ranked as the number one luckiest store, having sold a massive 39 First Division winning tickets over the years - including two winning Powerball First Division tickets.

Coming in second was Pak'N Save Riccarton in Christchurch having sold 30 First Division winning tickets.

This included a $22.5 million winning Big Wednesday First Division ticket sold in September 2013.

Rounding out the country's top five luckiest stores were Richmond Night N Day in Nelson with 29 First Division wins, Coastlands Lotto in Paraparaumu with 28 first division wins and Hornby Mall Lotto in Christchurch with 25 First Division wins.

"It's a shame I suppose. There is a lot more competition out there now," Ms Sharplin said.
Last year, Bayfair Lotto retained its rank as the country's fifth luckiest outlet - a top five title it held since 2012.

Ms Sharplin said the outlet was still doing well despite losing their "luckiest" title this year.

"For the month of January and February we sold the second most tickets out of everyone in New Zealand, and every month we are in the top five," Mr Sharplin said.

Two Powerball wins and one first division win made Greerton Lotto the luckiest Lotto shop in the Bay last year.

Greerton Lotto sold two Powerball First Division tickets in 2015, and a Lotto First Division winning ticket, which came to a total of $10 million in First Division prizes won from the store.

In February 2015, a player took home $4.5 million with Powerball First Division and celebrated the win with a cold beer after a restless night's sleep.

In September a punter won $5million with Powerball First Division and celebrated by planning a tropical holiday.

In December another player won $500,000 with Lotto First Division.

Kirsten Robinson, corporate communications adviser at Lotto, said while the top five stores had a reputation as being some of the luckiest in the country, there was no predicting where Powerball would be won next.

"Powerball can be won by anyone, anywhere, at any time - it's all part of the fun.
"The only thing we can guarantee is that you can't win if you don't have a ticket," she said.

In February this year a Tauranga family won $7.1 million with lucky numbers that had been in the wider family for over 20 years.

But the winners only started playing those numbers weeks before their big win.
Tonight's Powerball draw could see a lucky punter win $22million.

In February 2015, a player took home $4.5 million with Powerball First Division.
In March 2015 a Papamoa store sold a first division ticket that won $2 million.
In September 2015 a punter won $5 million with Powerball First Division.
In December 2015 another player won $500,000 with Lotto First Division.
A ticket that won $500,000 was sold in Tauranga just before Christmas.
In February this year a Tauranga family won $7.1 million.
In March this year a Bay of Plenty local won $1 million with Lotto First Division.