[Originally published 28 October 2022.]

RESIDENTS across the region hoped for a big win with Powerball’s $160 million draw taking place last night, after the Gippsland Times went to press.

The $160 million Powerball draw, draw 1380, had the biggest prize ever offered by an Australian lottery game. The jackpot soared after there were no Division 1 winners during the past five Powerball draws.

The previous record for Australia’s biggest lottery draw was a $150 million Powerball draw held in September 2019, where three individuals shared the jackpot.

Heyfield Authorised News & Tatto owner, Julie Thatcher, described a high level of hype for the jackpot over the past week.

“Even the Friday after last week’s draw, people were starting to get their tickets already,” Ms Thatcher said.

“There’s a lot of regulars (coming in). You get a few who like to try other newsagents and Tattslotto stores to see whether they have their luck there.

“I have my own regular ticket that I get every week.”

Ms Thatcher says the excitement surrounding the draw has been good for business, with those buying a ticket also picking up something else in-store.

“It creates a lot of interest in town. It keeps us busy, and obviously our sales are a lot higher. It’s a fun activity, and people just want to win,” she said.

“A win would hopefully put Heyfield on the map.”

With $160 million up for grabs, The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said up to half of Australian adults were expected to have an entry into the draw.

“While Australian lotteries have been operating for more than a century, there have only been nine draws that have offered a jackpot of $100 million or more, and this Thursday’s draw is the biggest of the lot,” he said.

“If just one person takes home this $160 million prize on Thursday night, they’ll make history by becoming the nation’s biggest-ever individual lottery winner.”

In financial year 2022, 16 Powerball Division 1 winning entries across Australia pocketed more than $681.7 million in prize money.

Of the 16 Powerball Division 1 winning entries in financial year 2022, seven landed in New South Wales, four in Victoria, three in Queensland and two in Western Australia.