Bigger Powerball jackpots raise Pacific gambling concerns

A bigger Powerball jackpot and a new $12 prize tier could make gambling more appealing to Pacific families already under financial pressure, a gambling researcher says.

Dr Edmond Fehoko says the changes to Powerball could encourage existing players to spend more while drawing people who do not normally gamble into the game.

Powerball moved from 10 to 14 numbers on 13 September, which makes the top prize harder to win. The odds of winning Division 1 have changed from about one in 38.4 million to one in 53.7 million while the maximum jackpot has increased from $50 million to $60 million. A new Division 8 prize worth $12 was also introduced.

Fehoko, whose research looks at gambling and cultural practices from a Tongan male perspective, says the bigger jackpots can create a strong sense of excitement around the possibility of winning.

“It excites many of our families, in particular low socioeconomic families and low socioeconomic areas. And so I don't blame our families of the sense of wanting to make money that they believe they can make by purchasing a lottery ticket or many others," he told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

He says the way Pacific people can view gambling is important when considering the possible impact.

Kiwis buy Lotto tickets as the latest Powerball changes bring bigger jackpots and a new prize division. Photo/RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly

“When Pacific people engage in gambling activities, we actually try, we actually go in with the idea that we're going to try and make money.”

Fehoko says this can be linked to the pressure of meeting family, cultural and community responsibilities.

“There’s a sense of urgency to try and make money to fulfill other and many other responsibilities that exist in our families and communities.”

Powerball’s jackpot can now reach NZ$60 million after changes to the game took effect on 13 September 2026. Photo/Supplied

He says Lotto can also be seen as less harmful than pokies or casino gambling because the amount spent on an individual ticket is relatively small.

“However, the accumulation of that over a period of time pretty much levels or equals the amount of money that an individual may be spending in a casino or perky's.”

Lotto NZ says the potential impact on groups at higher risk of gambling harm was considered during the design and rollout of the changes.

Will Hine, its Head of Corporate Communications, says Lotto NZ consulted the Department of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Health, as well as gambling-harm specialists, Pacific treatment providers, priority group representatives, academics and people with lived experience.

Lotto NZ says it has strengthened safer gambling messages during high jackpots and added information in stores in high-deprivation areas. It has also worked with Pacific treatment providers on gambling-harm resources translated into Sāmoan, Tongan and Cook Islands Māori.

The organisation says it modelled the expected impact of the changes, including the new odds, prize structure, jackpot patterns and Division 8.

Dr Edmond Fehoko says bigger Powerball jackpots could encourage more people to gamble and increase the risk of gambling harm among Pacific communities. Photo/RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly

But Lotto NZ says it will not routinely publish its internal modelling or assessment material because it can contain commercially sensitive information.

Fehoko says the new $12 prize could also have a longer-term effect by encouraging people to keep playing.

“And my fear is that this will eventually become a generational behavior, in particular with Lotto trying to encourage more of a younger generation to engage in their gambling activities and products.”

Lotto NZ says it will monitor responsible gambling indicators, including high-spend transactions and customer spending patterns, across retail stores and MyLotto.

It does not collect ethnicity information when people buy tickets, but says it will continue using research, stakeholder engagement and community feedback to guide its harm-minimisation work.

The latest New Zealand Gambling Survey shows 47.6 per cent of Pacific adults bought a Lotto NZ lottery ticket in 2023/24, while 10.9 per cent bought Lotto NZ products every week or almost every week.

Listen to Dr Edmond Fehoko's full interview below.

Fehoko says more support and education are needed alongside the changes. “So again, it's going to take a collective to address matters. So again, it's going to take a collective to address matters.”

He says Pacific communities, gambling-harm services and Lotto NZ all have a role to play as the new Powerball format beds in.

This week's Lotto NZ Powerball jackpot is $8 million for Wednesday.