A LOTTO winner has scooped a ￡22million jackpot but may not know yet as the game’s website crashes because a surging number of punters are checking tickets.

       With New Zealand’s Lotto's MyLotto app and website down, anxious players will have to wait up to 12 hours.

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       The lucky winner is thought to have bought the ticket in a Countdown supermarket Credit: Zero Fire

       A message on the site says: "We're currently experiencing issues for players trying to top up, we're working as quickly as we can to try and fix this.

       “Sorry for the inconvenience."

       The winning ticket was sold at Countdown supermarket in Pokeno - a town with a population of 3320.

       Store’s manager, Jatinder Chahal, told Staff.co.nz said the local community was "buzzing"

       She said: “We’re not sure yet what team member sold the winning ticket, but everyone wants to be that lucky person – maybe they’re hoping the luck will rub off.”

       Local resident Lucelle VanBoxel said there were a lot of rumours around that the winner was a man in his 20s.

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       She said: “It would be nice for a young one to win that money especially with the prices of housing these days.”

       But more than 60,000 people have been unable to check their tickets.

       Lotto NZ released a statement on social media, apologising that some players may have experienced issues.

       Customers who tried to top up but were not successful would have their funds returned to their bank account, Lotto said.

       A Lotto statement said:"For players trying to login to check their tickets tonight, MyLotto is still very busy and we encourage you to try again tomorrow.

       "We will continue to update you as we know more."

       But punters were not impressed.

       One person on the Lotto Facebook page said: "There's never been these kinds of holdups/delays/queues in the past when trying to check online tickets.

       “Maybe it's because there are a lot more checking with such a big prize, however if you're going to promote online buying, then you need the resources (server "speed" or whatever technical thingy it is) to deliver.”

       The winning numbers were 2, 3, 4, 7, 19, 31.

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