The numbers have been crunched and Victoria’s 2018 Lottery Hotspots have been revealed, with the north Melbourne suburb of Preston claiming the crown for the suburb that sold the most division one winning entries. During the past 12 months, between 1 December 2017 and 30 November 2018, Victorian lottery players enjoyed 130 division one prizes and pocketed more than $313 million in division one prize money.
For the third consecutive year, Victoria had the most division one wins nationally during the 12 month period and had Australia’s highest total of division one prize money.
The biggest division one prize to land in Victoria was also the state’s most notorious – a $55 million Powerball winning entry purchased in Brunswick that remained unclaimed for 175 days – just six days before the six-month prize claim deadline.
The latest Lottery Hotspots data shows the Victorian postcode that sold the most division one winning entries during the past 12 months was 3072 for Preston, which sold four division one winning entries totalling $5,209,294.46.
Hot on the heels of Preston were six Victorian postcodes that each sold three division one winning entries:
- 3138 for Mooroolbark, which sold three division one winning entries totalling $6,557,081.47.
- 3280 for Warrnambool, which sold three division one winning entries totalling $4,056,324.15.
- 3064 for Craigieburn, which sold three division one winning entries totalling $2,932,239.85.
- 3910 for Langwarrin, which sold three division one winning entries $2,857,142.86.
- 3000 for Melbourne CBD, which sold three division one winning entries totalling $2,482,206.86.
- 3023 for Cairnlea & Deer Park, which sold three division one winning entries totalling $2,388,159.93.
Remarkably, there were two outlets that each sold three division one winning entries: Mooroolbark Lotto Centre in Mooroolbark and Langwarrin Lotto in Langwarrin.
Another two outlets sold two division one winning entries: Reinheimers Newsagency & Lotto in Warrnambool and Highlands News and Lotto in Craigieburn.
This year, Melbourne – North was the region that enjoyed the most division one wins. It had 22 division one winning entries worth more than $74 million, including the state’s biggest prize of $55 million.
Elsewhere in Victoria, Melbourne – South sold 19 division one winning entries worth more than $19 million.
Tatts spokesperson Bronwyn Spencer said a whopping 56 millionaires were created across Victoria during the 12 month period - the second highest tally of any Australian state and territory.
“Lottery players in Melbourne had an unforgettable start to the year after an unregistered Brunswick entry won $55 million in the first week of January. This win captured the attention of the nation until the winner eventually claimed it in July,” she said.
“This Powerball winner was one of many millionaires across Victoria throughout the year who have had their lives changed forever!
“From overseas holidays and travels around Australia, to new homes and new cars, each ecstatic winner is now enjoying their win with their nearest and dearest.”
Ms Spencer added winners’ division one dreams were as vast and varied as the locations in which the wins were won.
“My wife has been pre-planning what we can do for four days! The kids’ housing loans will be paid off and it will definitely change our retirement plans. We’ve always wanted to go on the Ghan, so we’ll do that but mostly we’ll just enjoy setting the kids up.” – Thornbury man, $ 3 million Powerball, January 2018.
“We’ve seen division one wins land far and wide across Victoria in both metropolitan and regional areas,” she explained.
“In each case, every winner had their own dream of how they would use their windfall to enrich their lives. My favourite would have to be the six-member private syndicate from north-east Victoria that won $35 million in Oz Lotto and simply wanted a new washing machine.”
“There’s six of us in the syndicate and everyone will be excited to know it’s all official. It actually ends up benefiting six families. We’ve had a group chat going all morning about how we are each going to spend our share of the win. I know one family member is going to buy a new washing machine and another is going to get a rain water tank.” North-East family syndicate, $35 million Oz Lotto, August 2018.
“Another memorable win for the year was a kind-hearted grandfather from Heidelberg who was the guardian for his three orphaned grandchildren. He won a life-changing $1 million that would go towards caring for his beloved family, proving winning the lottery truly changes people’s lives.”
“I’m flabbergasted, just flabbergasted. It’s great news! Unbelievable! This is the best call I’ve ever received. I never thought I would get this call. I’m the grandfather of three orphans. I really need this money for them as we need to move into a bigger home.” Heidelberg grandfather, $1 million TattsLotto, June 2018.
Ms Spencer said there was still a chance for players to add their names to the list of 2018 division one winners.
“We are on the countdown to the highly anticipated TattsLotto $30 Million Megadraw on Saturday 29 December. This is the biggest TattsLotto event of the year as it’s the single draw that creates the most millionaires every year!” she exclaimed.
“With up to one-in-three adult Australians expected to buy an entry in the $30 Million Megadraw, we are expecting a surge of interest as we inch closer to the end of the year. Wannabe millionaires are advised to get in early and purchase their entry for the chance to see in the New Year as a millionaire!
“As always, we are encouraging our players to register their entries so we can get in touch directly with the life-changing news!”
VICTORIA
Top 5 biggest division one prizes across all lottery games – Victoria
| Rank | Product | Draw No | Draw Date | Selling Outlet | Outlet Suburb | Outlet Postcode | Division One Prize |
| 1 | Powerball | 1130 | 11/01/2018 | Scole Lotto and News | Brunswick | 3056 | $55,000,000.00 |
| 2 | Powerball | 3845 | 07/06/2018 | Online | n/a | n/a | $50,000,000.00 |
| 3 | Powerball | 1161 | 16/08/2018 | Online | n/a | n/a | $50,000,000.00 |
| 4 | Oz Lotto | 1277 | 20/09/2018 | Online | n/a | n/a | $35,000,000.00 |
| 5 | Oz Lotto | 1246 | 02/01/2018 | Wodonga Plaza Cards & Tatts | Wodonga | 3690 | $10,000,000.00 |
12 months ending 30 November 2018
2018 LOTTERY HOTSPOT POSTCODES
Postcodes where the most division one winning entries were sold – Victoria
| Rank | Postcode | Location | Frequency | Total Prize Amount | Biggest Prize Amount |
| 1 | 3072 | Preston | 4 | $5,209,294.46 | $3,000,000.00 |
| 2 | 3138 | Mooroolbark Lotto Centre | 3 | $6,557,081.47 | $4,115,786.02 |
| 3910 | Langwarrin | 3 | $4,309,652.29 | $2,857,142.86 | |
| 3280 | Warrnambool | 3 | $4,056,324.15 | $2,070,113.85 | |
| 3064 | Craigieburn | 3 | $2,932,239.85 | $1,428,571.43 | |
| 3000 | Melbourne CBD | 3 | $2,482,206.86
| $1,000,000.00
| |
| 3023 | Cairnlea, Deer Park | 3 | $2,388,159.93
| $1,428,571.43
|
12 months ending 30 November 2018
Top 10 postcodes with the highest total division one prize amount across all games – Victoria
| Rank | Postcode | Location | Frequency | Total Prize Amount | Biggest Prize Amount |
| 1 | 3056 | Brunswick | 2 | $55,671,513.12 | $55,000,000.00 |
| 2 | 3690 | Wodonga | 2 | $10,444,985.88 | $10,000,000.00 |
| 3 | 3134 | Ringwood | 1 | $7,500,000.00 | $7,500,000.00 |
| 4 | 3138 | Mooroolbark | 3 | $6,557,081.47 | $6,557,081.47 |
| 5 | 3109 | Doncaster East | 2 | $6,299,286.36 | $4,169,740.14 |
| 6 | 3101 | North Kew | 1 | $6,000,000.00 | $6,000,000.00 |
| 7 | 3072 | Preston | 4 | $5,209,294.46 | $3,000,000.00 |
| 8 | 3910 | Langwarrin | 3 | $4,309,652.29 | $2,857,142.86 |
| 9 | 3280 | Warrnambool | 3 | $4,056,324.15 | $2,070,113.85 |
| 10 | 3064 | Craigieburn | 3 | $2,932,239.85 | $1,428,571.43 |
12 months ending 30 November 2018
2018 LOTTERY HOTSPOT REGIONS
Regions where the most division one winning entries were sold – Victoria
| Rank | Region | Frequency | Total Prizes | Biggest Prize |
| 1 | Melbourne - North | 22 | $78,437,403.73 | $55,000,000.00 |
| 2 | Melbourne - Southeast | 19 | $19,387,209.66 | $2,857,142.86 |
| 3 | Melbourne - East | 12 | $26,154,568.82 | $7,500,000.00 |
| Melbourne - West | 12 | $11,003,026.71 | $2,222,222.23 | |
| Inner Melbourne | 12 | $10,177,668.47 | $2,077,008.59 | |
| 6 | Central Highlands and Goldfields | 7 | $7,069,012.42 | $2,077,008.59 |
| 7 | Geelong & Southwest | 6 | $7,176,039.02 | $1,428,571.43 |
| 8 | Northeast | 4 | $11,362,461.40 | $10,000,000.00 |
| Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges | 4 | $8,598,998.38 | $4,115,786.02 | |
| Western District | 4 | $4,513,076.65 | $2,070,113.85 |
12 months ending 30 November 2018
