Punters are flocking to the region's Lotto outlets for the slim but seductive prospect of winning tonight's $23million Powerball jackpot.
Those hoping history will repeat are heading in the direction of our luckiest stores - the top of which, according to Lotto New Zealand, remains Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings.
Formerly known as Peter Dunkerley's Pharmacy, the Bay's Lotto goldmine has been in the top 10 national stores for many years. In total it has scooped $38.9million in winnings across all Lotto games and divisions.
The pharmacy's business manager, Carol Ormerod, said a big prize always attracted more punters. "The numbers always start to build up whenever there's a jackpot," she said.
The store's enviable record of selling 37 Lotto First Division prizes was one of the reasons for the "constant stream of customers" when a big prize was up for grabs, she said.
Andrew Spence Pharmacy in Onekawa has sold 11 Lotto First Division winners, but the large Powerball ticket sold at that store takes all winnings across all Lotto games to $30.6million. Another big winning store is Countdown Napier in Napier, which has had 16 Lotto First Division winners, and $15.6million has been won across all games and divisions. There have been six Lotto First Divisions in Hawke's Bay this year with total winnings of $5,689,557.