Powerball
A Powerball computer displays a sign at a corner store in San Diego, California January 13, 2016. The jackpot in the Powerball lottery, already the largest ever payout in North American history, continued to climb, hitting an estimated 1.5 billion dollars. Reuters/Mike Blake

Auckland man Dean Lonergan bought 10 Powerball tickets for a US$1.5 billion ($2.1 billion) mega-draw to be held in the United States on Friday. He bought those tickets while he was holidaying with his son in Los Angeles.

While Lonergan is “not holding” his breath for a win as the chances are one in 292 million, he says he at least has a better chance of winning it than someone who has not bought a ticket.

The owner of an Auckland-based promotions company, Duco Events, refused to buy tickets for his friends and family as he was not sure who would get the money in case they won it. All the tickets he bought was for himself. However, he says his near and dear ones should expect a part of the reward if he wins.

"Given one of the people who asked me to buy them a ticket was my dad, I'm sure if I won I could flick of a hundred million to him," NZ Herald quoted him as joking. "Every time you turn on the news it's one of the lead stories, it's through the papers, is all online on every website. It's probably the biggest story in the United States right now."

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the US Powerball jackpot is now available for Australians for the first time ever. Lottoland acquired a five-year licence from the Northern Territory Racing Commission to allow online gambling for international lotteries.

Australians will be able to bet on the result of the lottery rather than enter the draw itself. "It's quite incredible now to think Australian citizens through Lottoland can join in on the race to win a mega international lottery without having to leave the comfort of their own lounge room or office," Lottoland spokesman Luke Brill said.

When last checked the Lottoland website was experiencing heavy traffic.

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