National Lottery Set to Bring US Powerball to the UK as Allwyn Bets on Bigger Jackpots – iGamingToday.com – News, insights and Slots review

The UK’s National Lottery is preparing to introduce one of America’s biggest lottery brands, opening the door to jackpots that can climb into the billions while giving British players access to the same prize pool as millions of ticket holders across the United States.

Pending final regulatory approval, operator Allwyn UK plans to begin selling Powerball tickets on 21 July. The first draw available to UK customers is scheduled for 23 July, with tickets priced at £4 and sold through retailers, the National Lottery website and its mobile app.

For the first time, UK players will be part of the same rolling jackpot shared by 48 participating US lotteries through an agreement with the Multi-State Lottery Association. That changes the scale of the game dramatically. Unlike traditional UK lottery draws, Powerball has no jackpot ceiling. Prizes start at £12 million and can continue growing for weeks, reaching hundreds of millions of pounds or, in exceptional cases, more than $1 billion.

Powerball has built that reputation over decades. Since launching in 1988, it has produced seven jackpots worth more than $1 billion, including the record $2.04 billion prize claimed in California in 2022.

Different Rules, Different Payouts

The game will keep the same format used in the US. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26, with a Lucky Dip option available. Draws will continue to take place in Florida every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

One notable difference from the National Lottery’s flagship Lotto game is how the top prize is paid. Instead of receiving a single lump sum, UK jackpot winners will collect the prize over a 30-year annuity, matching the long-standing American model.

Allwyn has also introduced two prize tiers exclusive to UK players. Matching two main numbers will guarantee an £8 payout, while matching all five main numbers without the Powerball will secure a £1 million prize. Other winnings will depend on how many successful tickets are sold for each draw.

If the current US jackpot keeps rolling over until launch, the first UK draw could carry a top prize of roughly $416 million.

Allwyn Targets Higher Returns for Good Causes

The arrival of Powerball is more than a product launch. It is another step in Allwyn’s effort to reshape the National Lottery after taking over the licence.

The company expects the new game to generate around £1 billion for National Lottery Good Causes during its first five years. It says money raised from UK ticket sales will remain in Britain, supporting charities, community organisations, sports programmes, heritage projects and the arts.

The operator also views the launch as part of a broader modernisation programme. Over the past year it has replaced lottery terminals across the country and widened ticket distribution through partnerships with retailers and digital platforms including Aldi, GoPuff and Vodafone.

Officials on both sides of the Atlantic believe expanding the player base should also make headline jackpots grow faster. More tickets sold means larger prize pools, while additional lottery revenue is expected to flow back into community projects in both participating markets.

To support the rollout, Allwyn is preparing a nationwide marketing campaign designed to introduce UK audiences to a lottery game already known for producing some of the largest jackpots ever awarded.

Source: casino.com