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It was always a long shot but the average Australian's odds of winning the Oz Lotto top prize will soon shrink further under changes introduced by the Victorian government.
Victoria's Public Lottery Licence has been amended so from May 11, the Oz Lotto matrix will increase from seven from 45 numbers to seven from 47.
Three supplementary numbers will be drawn instead of two, resulting in 10 numbers drawn from 47.
The changes, the first to the game since 2005, decrease the odds of winning first division from one in 45.3 million to one in 62.8 million, the Victorian government gazette says.
The move will affect Oz Lotto entrants in all states and territories since the game, played nationally every Tuesday, is licensed in Victoria.
The Lott spokesman Matt Hart said the changes were made in response to feedback from lottery players.
"Players told us they wanted Oz Lotto to offer the potential for more winners and bigger prizes, and that's exactly what we've given them," he said.
Under further changes, he said Oz Lotto's base jackpot will increase from $2 million to $3 million and punters will be offered extra prizes, increasing the chances of winning other divisions from one in 55 to one in 51.
Australia's peak body for lotteries and newsagents said the cost of each game would rise 10 cents, from $1.20 to $1.30, to accommodate the larger base jackpot and give struggling agents a boost.
"The small increase in price will assist retailers and their staff to weather this more challenging trading environment with rapidly rising costs," Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association chief executive Ben Kearney said.
Opposition gambling spokeswoman Steph Ryan accused the state government of a cash grab, suggesting the changes would lead to more tax revenue for Victoria.
"By adding extra numbers to the lottery, the government is ensuring that it's harder to win, which means it's going to jackpot more, and bigger jackpots lead to bigger ticket sales," she told reporters on Thursday.
While rates differ across states and territories, Victoria collects 79.4 per cent of losses from public lottery tickets sold in Australia and 90 per cent from those bought overseas.
Victoria's lottery revenue was $584 million in 2021/22, up from the $559 million the State Revenue Office collected in the previous financial year.
Before the first-division Oz Lotto odds decrease, the 2021/22 state budget forecast the figure would rise to $631 million by 2024/25.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said the government was pursuing tax revenue over gambling harm reduction.
"There is absolutely nothing in this decision that reflects any approach to gambling harm reduction. It is simply driven by the Victorian government's desire to increase gambling tax revenue," he said.
Sport and Events Minister Martin Pakula dismissed concerns the game would be harder to win, saying the differences were "pretty academic".
Premier Daniel Andrews questioned the accuracy of opposition and advocate claims, but deferred to Gaming Minister Melissa Horne, who declined to comment when contacted by AAP.
It is understood the state government believes the amount of overall payout to players will not change, nor increase gambling-related harm.
A new two-licence model for Keno was also recently announced for Victoria, allowing incoming licensees Tabcorp and Lottoland to operate online from April 15.
© AAP 2022
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Heavy rain continues to fall across NSW as residents are told to evacuate low-lying areas in Sydney's south, after the city exceeded its annual average rainfall in just over three months.
The state has been hit by repeat floods in recent months, with the Northern Rivers area devastated by two deluges within weeks and Sydney enduring an almost constant drenching.
An evacuation order has been issued for residents in low-lying areas of Woronora and Bonnet Bay in Sydney's south, and residents in parts of the southwest have been told to prepare to evacuate.
Flood watches have been issued around NSW with minor to major flooding forecast in several catchments.
Water is spilling at Warragamba Dam, which was already at capacity before the rain began.
Major flooding is expected on the Nepean River with Menangle, Wallacia, and possibly Camden expected to be impacted over the coming days.
"We have forecast for a major flood peak to occur later this evening (at Menangle), and that will be near the April 1988 flood level ... higher than the March (2021 and 2022) flood levels," Bureau of Meteorology senior hydrologist Ailsa Schofield said on Thursday.
The SES has responded to almost 700 requests for assistance and conducted 25 rescues, the majority for people caught out by flash flooding.
"We have seen exceptionally sharp, short bursts of rain that have created significant flash flooding," acting commissioner Daniel Austin said.
The Hawkesbury, Nepean, Georges and Woronora Rivers are at risk of major flooding.
In Liverpool and Milperra in Sydney's west, the Georges River is expected to rise above four metres in the late afternoon high tide.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday there was a sense of deja vu in the area following flooding last month.
Residents are invited to pick up sandbags.
"We know what's going to happen, we just hope it won't get worse than last time," Mr Mannoun said.
Minor flooding is forecast in several catchments around NSW, including along the Upper Coxs, Macdonald, Parramatta, Shoalhaven, Clyde, Moruya and Deua Rivers as well as St Georges Basin.
Authorities issued a severe weather warning on Thursday for southern and central NSW, metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, the South Coast, the Central and Southern Tablelands, and parts of the Hunter.
Six-hourly rainfall totals up to 180mm are likely in some coast areas, the BOM warned.
Cronulla, south of Sydney's centre, recorded 107mm in three hours overnight.
In the Illawarra, Mount Pleasant received 112mm and Rixons Pass 79mm in less than four hours on Thursday.
Sydney has received more than its average annual rainfall at the Bureau of Meteorology's Observatory Hill site in The Rocks despite it only being early April.
More than 114mm fell there in the 24 hours up to 9am on Thursday, and a further 18.4mm in the four hours that followed, taking its total for the year to 1245.2mm, above the annual average of 1213.4mm.
Several schools have closed in Sydney's south, the Illawarra and the South Coast, including Dapto High School, Kanahooka High School, Kurnell Public School, Terara Public School, and Woronora River Public School.
The rain is expected to ease on Friday but the flood risk will remain throughout the week.
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Heavy rain is continuing to fall across NSW as residents are told to evacuate low-lying areas in Sydney's south.
The state has been hit by repeat floods in recent months, with the Northern Rivers area devastated by two deluges within weeks while Sydney endures an almost constant drenching.
An evacuation order has been issued for residents in low-lying areas of Woronora in Sydney's south and residents in parts of Camden in the southwest have been told to prepare to evacuate too.
Sydney has now received more than its average annual rainfall at the Bureau of Meteorology's Observatory Hill site in The Rocks despite it only being early April.
More than 114mm fell there in the 24 hours from 9am on Wednesday, taking its total for the year to 1226.8mm, above the annual average of 1213.4mm.
Authorities issued a severe weather warning on Thursday for southern and central NSW, metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, the South Coast, the Central and Southern Tablelands, and parts of the Hunter.
Heavy rain fell in the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands overnight and the wet weather will extend across Sydney, the Central Tablelands and Hunter region on Thursday.
Six-hourly rainfall totals up to 180mm are likely in some coast areas, the BOM warned.
Cronulla, south of Sydney's centre, recorded 107mm in three hours overnight.
Numerous areas around Sydney and the Illawarra had more than 100mm in the 24 hours from 9am on Wednesday.
Significant falls were recorded in the metropolitan area at Rose Bay (140mm), Little Bay (140mm), Belrose (117mm) and Marrickville (110mm), while further south in the Illawarra and South Coast there were downpours at Darkes Forest (193mm), Macquarie Pass (184mm), Bodalla (127mm) and Nowra (125mm).
There is an increased risk of landslides, according to the BOM.
A number of schools have closed in Sydney's south, the Illawarra and the South Coast, including Dapto High School, Kanahooka High School, Kurnell Public School, Terara Public School, and Woronora River Public School.
A flood watch has been issued for central NSW, with minor to moderate flooding forecast for the southern coastal rivers including the Hawkesbury-Nepean, the Macquarie and the Queanbeyan on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday morning, emergency services warned there could be major flooding in Liverpool and Milperra in Sydney's west along the Georges River, with the water expected to rise above four metres in the late-afternoon high tide.
Minor flood warnings were issued for the Hawkesbury River at Windsor and North Richmond, the Cooks River at Tempe Bridge and the Woronora River at Woronora Bridge.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday there was a sense of deja vu in the area following flooding last month.
Residents are invited to pick up sandbags.
"We know what's going to happen, we just hope it won't get worse than last time," Mr Mannoun said.
Moderate flooding could occur on the Colo River at Putty Road.
SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said the SES had conducted 11 rescues and responded to almost 600 requests for help in the past 24 hours.
"We're expecting those numbers to increase unfortunately today as that rain continues," he told Nine's Today program on Thursday.
"It's a very dynamic and volatile situation."
The weather is expected to ease on Friday.
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Severe rainfall is forecast to continue in already-saturated NSW and flood warnings are in place for river catchments across the state.
The state has been hit by repeated flooding in recent months, with the Northern Rivers area devastated by two deluges within weeks and Sydney drenched in its wettest March on record.
A severe weather warning is in place on Thursday for southern and central NSW, metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra, the South Coast, the Central and Southern Tablelands, and parts of the Hunter.
Severe thunderstorms are also predicted inland for the Central West Slopes and Plains near Parkes and the Upper West near Cobar.
Heavy rain fell in the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands overnight and the wet weather will extend across Sydney, the Central Tablelands and Hunter region on Thursday.
Six-hourly totals between 60mm and 100mm are forecast, with up to 140mm predicted on the coast.
Cronulla recorded 107mm in three hours overnight.
Numerous areas around Sydney and the Illawarra have had more than 100mm since 9am on Wednesday.
Significant falls were recorded around Sydney at Rose Bay (140mm), Little Bay (140mm), Belrose (117mm) and Marrickville (110mm), and further south in the Illawarra and South Coast at Darkes Forest (193mm), Macquarie Pass (184mm), Bodalla (127mm) and Nowra (125mm).
The Bureau of Meteorology warns there is an increased risk of landslides.
A flood watch has been issued for central NSW, with minor to moderate flooding forecast for the southern coastal rivers including the Hawkesbury-Nepean, the Macquarie and the Queanbeyan on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday morning, the SES warned there could be major flooding in Liverpool and Milperra in Sydney's west along the Georges River, with the water expected to rise above four metres in the late-afternoon high tide.
"Residents of areas expecting to be flooded should make plans to leave when advised to do so. Ensure you take pets and valuables with you," the SES said.
Minor flood warnings were issued for the Hawkesbury River at Windsor and North Richmond, the Cooks River at Tempe Bridge and the Woronora River at Woronora Bridge.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday there was a sense of deja vu in the area following flooding in early March.
Residents are being invited to pick up sandbags.
"We know what's going to happen, we just hope it won't get worse than last time," Mr Mannoun said.
Moderate flooding could occur on the Colo River at Putty Road.
SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said the SES had conducted 11 rescues and responded to almost 600 requests for help in the past 24 hours.
"We're expecting those numbers to increase unfortunately today as that rain continues," he told Nine's Today program on Thursday.
"It's a very dynamic and volatile situation."
Catchments were already soaked after months of heavy rain, the BOM said.
The bad weather is being driven by a strong upper trough over the centre of NSW, working to deepen another trough sitting off the coast.
The systems are expected to weaken on Friday morning.
"Heavy and persistent showers over the coming days will increase the chance of flash flooding and landslips over already saturated catchments," bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
Severe thunderstorms also pose a threat, including in northeastern NSW.
"They may produce localised heavy falls (but) it is not expected to produce that riverine flooding," Ms Scully said.
"Instead, it will be more localised flash flooding."
© AAP 2022
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