There is a very good chance that a local person is now $13.3m richer.
That's what Bureta Superette owner Balvir Singh says after selling the winning ticket in Saturday night's fourth biggest ever Lotto Powerball first prize.
The golden ticket _ which is still to be redeemed _ had a staggering one
in 38 million chance of coming in and is worth a cool $13,330,960. The prize is made up of $12,921,763 from Powerball first division and $409,197 (one third share of Lotto First Division).
Saturday's win continues Tauranga's recent winning streak in competitions operated by NZ Lotteries.
In July last year, a solo mum won prizes totalling $8.6 million on Big Wednesday after buying a ticket at Tauranga City Lotto, while later that month a $1 million winning Lotto ticket was sold at Brookfield New World.
Mr Singh said the odds were high that the ticket holder was local as most of his customers were from the area. It was the third "big one" he had sold since he started selling Lotto just over a year ago.
In May last year a Matua couple won $333,000 _ their one-third share of first division _ and Mr Singh also sold a second division ticket worth $14,203 in October to someone from Otumoetai.
A delighted Mr Singh said he had a sleepless Saturday night wondering who the lucky punter might be after he received a late call from the owner of another Lotto outlet informing him he had sold the $13.3 million ticket.
"I just could not believe it when I was told. It's hard to tell who it might be as people want anonymity for very good reasons," he told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"But it also could be an out-of-towner as lots of people are holidaying in Tauranga at this time of year. I really do hope it is a local.
"But either way it could take quite a few days for the winner to claim their prize or they could choose to fly to Wellington to collect the money instead."
Mr Singh said the last time he sold a big winning ticket it took up to two weeks before the winner came forward.
"Hopefully we'll all find out soon. It has certainly created a real buzz around here."
In case you are wondering, Mr Singh did buy a Powerball ticket himself but only scored a bonus ticket.
One of Mr Singh's regular customers, who only wanted to be known as Judith, said she didn't win a bean, but hoped whoever did win the big one was really deserving of it.
"I just think lucky them whoever they are but I do hope it isn't a greedy person or someone who already has pots of money.
"I'd love it to be a big family who really needs it."
NZ Lotteries' chief executive Todd McLeay said Saturday's winning ticket was the biggest cash prize for a long time.
It is also the first win under the new rules introduced in October last year which requires players to choose from 10 numbers instead of eight, he said.
The biggest Powerball win was a $17.9 million ticket which was sold in Kaeo, Northland, in May 2006 and was won by an Auckland man.
There is a very good chance that a local person is now $13.3m richer.
That's what Bureta Superette owner Balvir Singh says after selling the winning ticket in Saturday night's fourth biggest ever Lotto Powerball first prize.
The golden ticket _ which is still to be redeemed _ had a staggering one
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