Behind eight Sydney suburbs – including Newcastle and the Central Coast – and the North Coast, Wagga is ranked 10th on the NSW Lotteries winners’ list.

Two major Powerball winners in Wagga in four years, one collecting $15 million in 2003 and the other taking home $9 million in 2007, have boosted Wagga’s takings to more than $24 million.

NSW Lotteries communications manager John Vineburg said Wagga has had a good run of luck with big money prize-winners in recent years.

“Wagga has certainly cemented itself as a lucky place to be over the last five years,” Mr Vineburg said.

John and Jenny Ristivojevic, owners of the Ashmont Newsagency – where the $9 million winning ticket was purchased – said they haven’t had any other major winners since.

However, nine plaques hang on the newsagency’s wall, representing major winning tickets sold from the outlet.

Other than the $9 million, top prizes collected from the newsagency range from $25,000 to $750,000, Mrs Ristivojevic said.

Wagga’s total winnings, of prizes more than $5000 from all of NSW Lotteries’ games since 2003, currently stand at $33,616,006.05.

For all those wanting to know the secrets to striking it rich, Mr Vineburg said simply entering the draw and having lady luck on your side are still the most determining factors.

“The purchase pattern is spread fairly evenly across all towns and suburbs across NSW … (but) for one postcode to win $24 million and another to win $24 million there is no way to explain in other than sheer luck.”