UK to Launch Powerball Game with Potential Billion-Dollar Jackpots

The United Kingdom is set to introduce its own version of the Powerball lottery game, potentially offering jackpots that could reach billions of pounds. National Lottery operator Allwyn has confirmed that the game, previously exclusive to the United States, will launch for British ticket-buyers on Tuesday, July 21.

Subject to regulatory approval, players will be able to purchase a £4 Powerball ticket from National Lottery retailers, its website, or the mobile app starting July 21. UK players will have the opportunity to win uncapped jackpots, with starting prizes of £12 million that can escalate significantly. Both UK and US players will compete for a shared 'mega' jackpot, which could be paid out over 30 years to any British winners.

To win the shared jackpot, UK players must match five main numbers and the Powerball. The new UK version of the game also introduces an additional prize tier called 'Match 2 main numbers,' exclusively for British players, offering a fixed prize of £8. Another tier, 'Match 5 main numbers,' offers a fixed prize of £1 million, while other prize tiers will vary based on the numbers drawn and the number of winners.

If the current Powerball jackpot, estimated at $416 million (£312 million), continues to roll over until the UK launch, opening draw participants on July 23 could contend for substantial winnings. The introduction of Powerball follows recent adjustments to the National Lottery's flagship Lotto game, which now offers players two chances to win per £2 ticket and has already created 27 new millionaires since its revamp on June 10.

The Powerball game, which originated in the US in 1992, has a history of significant payouts. The largest Powerball jackpot to date was over $2.04 billion (£1.53 billion) in 2022. Over the past 34 years, the game has generated an estimated $38 billion (£28 billion) for various good causes, including education, scholarships, veteran services, and parks.

Allwyn Chief Executive Andria Vidler stated that the new game offers National Lottery players a chance to "dream bigger, while supporting thousands of Good Cause projects across the UK every week." Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery, added that the expansion to the UK will lead to "faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve."

UK Powerball players will select five main numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26, or opt for a Lucky Dip. Tickets can be purchased online or in stores up to 11:55 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The draws will take place the following mornings at approximately 4 a.m. in Florida.

This launch follows a significant £450 million technology upgrade for the National Lottery, which involved migrating millions of player records and billions of transactions to new platforms. In 2025, total National Lottery sales reached £8.1 billion, a 3.5% increase from the previous year, with over £1.7 billion generated for good causes and £967 million raised in taxes.