After months of anticipation, National Lottery operator Allwyn has confirmed that the UK-specific version of Powerball will officially launch in the UK this month with players able to buy a £4 Powerball line in National Lottery stores and on the National Lottery website/app from Tuesday (Juy 21).
The launch is subject to final regulatory approval.
Powerball from The National Lottery will offer UK players uncapped jackpots starting at £12 milion which can grow into the hundreds of millions and even billions.
The UK-specific version of the iconic Powerball game will see UK players playing alongside their US counterparts for a chance to win the mega, shared jackpot – which will be paid out over 30 years to UK jackpot winners.
The UK game features an extra ‘Match 2 main numbers’ prize tier, which is only available to UK players and offers a fixed prize of £8.
The ‘Match 5 main numbers’ tier also offers a fixed prize of £1m, while all other UK prize tiers offer generous, estimated prizes – which vary depending on the balls drawn and the number of winners in each tier.If the Powerball jackpot – which is currently estimated at $416m- continues to roll until the UK launch, UK players will be in with a chance to scoop serious ‘Powerball Money’ in the opening draw on 23 July.
The launch of Powerball follows on from changes that Allwyn made to the flagship Lotto game last month – where one £2 Lotto line now gives players two chances to win.
Since the first new Lotto draw on 10 June, the revised format has so far created 27 millionaires. As the nation’s ‘millionaire maker’, the new Lotto format is the ideal complement to Powerball, the UK’s first £1bn+ mega-jackpot game.
Founded in 1992, Powerball will be a win-win for National Lottery players – offering eye-watering jackpots and range of great prizes but also delivering for UK Good Causes. The biggest-ever Powerball winner of over $2.04bn was made in 2022. And, over the past 34 years, Powerball has generated a estimated $38bn for good causes, including education and scholarships, veteran services, parks and recreation, and more. A
The game is expected to raise around £1bn for UK Good Causes over its first five years, with all Good Causes funding generated from UK ticket sales going directly to UK beneficiaries and projects.
Allwyn CEO, Andria Vidler, said, “We’re excited to give National Lottery players the chance to dream bigger, while supporting thousands of Good Cause projects across the UK every week. Powerball jackpots can soar into the billions, offering breath-taking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities.
“As we begin the countdown to the first draw later this month, you won’t be able to miss Powerball’s arrival with a major launch lined up. We’re encouraging players to get involved when tickets go on sale, and we’ll be crossing our fingers for our first UK winner.”
Rebecca Paul, President & CEO of the Tennessee Lottery and former President of the World Lottery Association, said “This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball. More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve.”
How will Powerball work in the UK?
Powerball is launching in the UK in partnership with the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) – a non-profit association owned and operated by its member lotteries.
With 48 US-based lotteries already participating in Powerball, Allwyn will be launching a tailored version of the game for UK players.
Priced at £4 per line, this will see them playing for a chance to win the shared jackpot, paid out over 30 years for UK winners, by matching five main numbers plus the Powerball.
The UK game features an extra ‘Match 2 main numbers’ prize tier, which is only available to UK players and offers a fixed prize of £8.
The ‘Match 5 main numbers’ tier also offers a fixed prize of £1M, while all other UK prize tiers offer generous, estimated prizes – which vary depending on the balls drawn and the number of winners in each tier.
UK Powerball players will pick five main numbers ranging from numbers from 1 to 69, and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. Or they can choose a Lucky Dip.
Tickets will be available to buy online or in store by 11.55pm the night before the draws (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays), with the draws then happening around 4am the next morning – on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday – from the Powerball studio in Florida.