The Lott 2024 Winners Report can be downloaded here
From being trackside at the Monaco Grand Prix to hemming on a new “whiz bang” sewing machine, Aussie division one winners have revealed some of the unique ways they’ve enjoyed their lottery fortunes.
In 2023, there were 500 division one winning entries across the country and across all lottery games that collectively delivered more than $1.52 billion in division one prize money.
The Lott’s Annual Winners Report, drawing on surveys of last year’s division one winners at The Lott, revealed how Aussies enjoyed their prizes by bringing to life some long-held dreams and helping the people who matter the most to them.
The report’s release comes ahead of Thursday’s $100 million Powerball draw. The $100 million prize is the third biggest jackpot offered by any Australian lottery game so far this year. It’s also the equal sixth-biggest jackpot in Australian lottery history.
Up to half of Australian adults are expected to have an entry into the draw.
If one person takes home the entire $100 million prize on Thursday night, they would immediately share the title of the nation’s third-biggest lottery winner.
The Lott’s Annual Winners Report showed that it may one day pay to answer your phone on the first ring.
More than a third (34%) of division one winners discovered their good fortune by receiving a phone call from The Lott. Another 35% found out by either checking their ticket on The Lott website or scanning their ticket on The Lott app.
- “(I immediately) hyperventilated (and) then woke up my brother to check the information on my phone was correct.”
- “Disbelief. I cried as I couldn’t believe my luck.”
- “When the winning news sank in, I felt more empowered.”
- “I couldn’t believe it. Very emotional for several days.”
- “Gratitude. (Couldn’t wait to) share my luck and cry.”
Investing money for the future (53%), paying off the mortgage/buying a new house (53%), and helping family and friends (40%) were the top three plans made by division one winners. However, many found unique uses for their windfalls:
- “Just sensible things, like a fence and a shed.”
- “I did a skydive over the Gold Coast.”
- “We went to the Monaco Grand Prix. Always been a life dream to do so.”
- “Brought a new whiz-bang sewing machine!”
- “Get a new hip and kitchen.”
Separately, 13% of winners revealed they used their prize to donate to charities close to their hearts.
Winners frequently described their lottery good fortune as “life-changing”:
- “Removed stress and worry, gave confidence, opened up possibilities.”
- “Not having to worry about anything financial is the greatest feeling.”
- “Those closest to me are debt-free. My heart is happy to have donated to my charities that means so much to me, and I am also debt-free and able to help my immediate family.”
Last year’s winners also had advice for future lottery winners, including taking your time to plan, seeking expert advice, and helping others.
- “At first stop, relax and think. Then do what makes you happy.”
- “See a financial advisor and enjoy life while you can.”
- “Doesn’t matter how much you accumulate in your life you are not going to eat it all alone. Make sure to help others.”
The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said looking after and spending more time with loved ones was a common theme among recent division one winners.
“Once the life-changing news had sunk in, most winners were keen to share the news with their nearest and dearest, including partners, immediate family, and close friends. Only 5% told absolutely no one about their win,” he said.
“While most people dream of buying new things, like a house or car, if they were to win division one, for many winners their minds quickly shift to their nearest and dearest – how they can spend more time with them and make their lives more carefree.
“In fact, on average, 19 other people directly benefit from an individual’s division one win.
“For Aussie winners, a big part of winning big is sharing with others, whether that be with their children, their grandchildren, their parents, their friends, and even strangers in need of a helping hand. You immediately get a sense of who’s important in their lives.
Mr Hart said he couldn’t wait to see if one or more Aussies took home this week’s $100 million Powerball jackpot and what their plans might be for the prize.
Entries into the $100 million Powerball draw 1475 close at 7.30pm AEST on Thursday 22 August 2024.
The official home of Australia’s lotteries, The Lott operates and markets Australia’s leading lottery games customers know and love creating everyday winners, winning every day.
In 2023, more than 122.7 million wins took home more than $3.76 billion in prize money from their favourite games at The Lott, including Saturday Lotto, Weekday Windfall, Powerball, Oz Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, Keno (SA), Super 66, Lotto Strike and Instant Scratch-Its.
In FY23, Australia’s Official Lotteries contributed more than $1.6 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education.
