For the first time ever, Powerball® is launching outside of the United States, offering UK players the chance to win life-changing prizes through a game with jackpots that can climb into the billions. And after months of anticipation, National Lottery operator Allwyn has confirmed that, subject to final regulatory approval, the UK-specific version of the game will officially launch in the UK this month – with players able to buy a £4 Powerball line in National Lottery retailers and on the National Lottery website/app from Tuesday 21 July. 

Powerball from The National Lottery will offer UK players uncapped jackpots starting at £12M, 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.

But ‘Powerball Money’ is not just about buying bigger houses, faster cars or luxury holidays. When jackpots can climb as high as the billions, the possibilities move beyond possessions altogether. This is the kind of money that could save a beloved local football club, bring a bold community project to life, or fund a cause you care about for generations to come.

A Powerball win has the potential to create an impact far beyond the winner themselves. It can transform families, strengthen communities and create opportunities on a scale few people could ever imagine. This is ‘Powerball Money’ – wealth so extraordinary that it is measured not by what you own, but by what you can make possible.

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.

And Powerball's impact will not stop with its winners. 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. So, while Powerball jackpots have the potential to transform winners’ lives, every ticket sold will also help support communities the length and breadth of the UK.

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.

More information on Powerball can be found here: How to play Powerball | The National Lottery

* Subject to final regulatory approval.

**The UK advertised jackpot will be the estimated amount paid to most winners over 30 years after UK taxes. In rare circumstances, additional taxes may apply to the jackpot depending on the winner's circumstances (for example, if the winner is not a UK tax resident) because of the prize money originating from the US.

*** The estimated US Powerball jackpot and the UK jackpot are not directly comparable. The US jackpot is advertised in US dollars and before taxes, while the UK jackpot is advertised as a post-tax value. The UK jackpot is paid as an annuity over 30 years, with the advertised amount calculated using the highest applicable UK tax rate.

About Allwyn and The National Lottery

Allwyn operates The National Lottery® under licence, raising vital funds that help communities thrive across the UK. Every ticket makes a difference - from grassroots sport and local arts to heritage and community initiatives. Distribution of funds is managed by independent bodies.

• Powerball draws will take place at 3.59am UK time for most of the year, apart from a few weeks every year in the autumn and spring when the clocks go forward/back on different dates in the US.
• Players of The National Lottery raise around £33M every week for National Lottery-funded projects. Since its launch in 1994, more than £53BN has been raised, funding over 680,000 Good Cause projects in every part of the UK.  In every postcode district, most people will have benefited from a National Lottery-funded project at some point.      

• The National Lottery has awarded players over £103BN in prize money, creating more than 8,000 millionaires.

• Learn more about Allwyn and The National Lottery at www.allwyn.co.uk and www.national-lottery.co.uk.

• Explore projects funded in your area at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.

• Players must be 18 or over. Please play responsibly.

Press enquiries: Allwyn Press Office – 020 7632 5711