The UK version of the world's biggest jackpot game, Powerball, is set to launch this week, offering players the chance to win shared jackpots that can balloon into the billions. The National Lottery's Powerball will see UK players pay £4 per line to compete with their US counterparts for prizes paid out over 30 years.
Launch details and first draw
Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, said players will be able to buy tickets from Tuesday. If the Powerball jackpot – currently estimated at 416 million US dollars (£311 million) – continues to roll until the UK launch, UK players will be in with a chance to win it in the opening draw on Thursday. This marks the first time the game has operated outside of the US.
Prize structure and UK-specific features
The UK game offers uncapped jackpots starting at £12 million, which can grow into the hundreds of millions and even billions. It features an extra 'match two main numbers' prize tier, exclusive to UK players, offering a fixed prize of £8. The 'match five main numbers' tier also offers a fixed prize of £1 million, while all other UK prize tiers will vary depending on the balls drawn and the number of winners.
Allwyn chief executive 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 breathtaking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities. We're encouraging players to get involved when tickets go on sale, and we'll be crossing our fingers for our first UK winner.'
Broader lottery changes and impact
Powerball follows the biggest overhaul to the National Lottery's draw-based Lotto game since its launch in 1994. Players now get two chances to win for every £2 ticket. The change, rolled out from June 7, is expected to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires – from around 140 a year to about 345. It also follows a £450 million major tech upgrade to the lottery, which involved moving 18 million player records and more than three billion historical transactions from old platforms to new ones, and transforming the technology used by retail partners.
Sales and contributions to good causes
Latest figures from Allwyn show total National Lottery sales, including lottery tickets bought in shops, came in at £8.1 billion in 2025, up 3.5% on the previous year. More than £1.7 billion was generated for good causes, which incorporates funding for health, education, arts, sports, heritage and charitable causes, and £967 million was raised in taxes.
