The MyLotto website and Lotto NZ app will be unavailable from 7.30pm until an unconfirmed time on Sunday morning.
Lotto’s website states: “This weekend [July 16 -17] we will upgrade the systems that support MyLotto and the Lotto NZ app.
“From 7.30pm on Saturday, July 16, the site will close, and you will not be able to log into MyLotto to purchase or check tickets, or claim prizes until the site reopens. At this point, we expect that it will open a little later than usual on Sunday morning.”
The website also mentions that the Kiwi online games will close a little earlier at 6:30 PM on Saturday, July 16, and will reopen at the same time as MyLotto on Sunday morning.
The results of the Bullseye draw will also be postponed.
The draw will still take place at 6:00 PM as usual, but the results will not be available until 7:30 PM.
“As MyLotto closes early on Saturday, it means that MyLotto players will not be able to check their Bullseye tickets until the site reopens on Sunday, July 17.”
The Lotto draw also still takes place at 8pm.
Lotto NZ says they will upgrade the systems that support MyLotto and the Lotto NZ app.
“This upgrade supports our commitment to bring you a great online gaming experience.”
Lotto NZ apologized on October 20 last year as tens of thousands of Kiwis were barred from checking their tickets – and many were unable to buy their shot at the $42 million jackpot.
“This evening, some players may have encountered problems upgrading or purchasing their tickets and we are sorry for the inconvenience caused,” the agency said on Facebook, shortly after a single player – with a ticket purchased in Pokeno, in the south or Auckland – won the second largest ever Powerball prize in New Zealand.
At just before 9pm, gamblers trying to check their tickets on MyLotto were told to wait over an hour – with as many as 60,000 Kiwis in line.
Previously, a post on the site read: “We are currently experiencing issues for players attempting to upgrade, we are working as quickly as we can to resolve this. Sorry for the inconvenience.
“For customers who tried to top up but were not successful, the money will be deposited back into your bank account in the coming days. For players trying to log in tonight to check their tickets, MyLotto is still very busy and we encourage you to try again tomorrow.
“During high jackpots, we always encourage players to buy their tickets early to avoid our busiest times. We’ll continue to update you as we learn more.”
Punters were not impressed.
“There have never been this kind of delays/delays/queues in checking online tickets in the past. Maybe it’s because there are a lot more checks with such a big price, but if you’re going to promote online buying, the resources needed (server “speed” or whatever technical thing) to deliver,” said someone on the Lotto Facebook page.