Powerball jackpots are expected to grow faster. Here’s why
Powerball jackpots are about to be much larger. Reporter explains.
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes explains the historic agreement with the UK National Lottery.
Powerball has officially expanded to the United Kingdom, allowing British lottery players to buy tickets for the first time, and subsequently giving the game’s jackpots the potential to grow even faster.
The expansion, made possible through an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK, operator of the U.K. National Lottery, takes effect with the July 23 drawing. It marks the first time a non-U.S. lottery has contributed to the Powerball jackpot, a move officials say will help jackpots grow faster as more tickets are sold.
For American players, however, the game itself is staying the same. Tickets will still cost $2, drawings will continue every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and the odds of winning the jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million. What changes is the size of the player base, which officials say should help jackpots build more quickly between drawings.
“This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball,” Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery and former president of the World Lottery Association, said in a statement. “More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve.”
Why are Powerball jackpots expected to grow faster?
Each Powerball ticket sold in the United Kingdom adds the same amount to the shared jackpot as a ticket sold in the United States, even though U.K. tickets cost more. With more tickets being sold overall, the jackpot is expected to increase at a faster pace when there is no grand prize winner.
The addition of the United Kingdom brings the number of lotteries contributing to the Powerball jackpot to 49. Officials emphasized that more than half of every ticket sold in the United States will continue to remain in the jurisdiction where it was purchased, supporting programs such as education, scholarships, veteran services and parks and recreation.
What does the expansion mean for U.S. players?
For U.S. players, virtually nothing changes.
Players will still select five white balls from 1 through 69 and one red Powerball from 1 through 26. The overall odds of winning any prize remain 1 in 24.9, while the jackpot odds stay at 1 in 292.2 million.
Powerball’s estimated jackpot for July 23 night’s drawing stands at $567 million, with a cash option worth an estimated $251.8 million before taxes.
How is playing Powerball different in the United Kingdom?
While British players will compete for the same jackpot, there are a few key differences.
Powerball tickets in the United Kingdom cost 4 pounds (roughly $5.33), compared with $2 in the United States. U.K. tickets contribute only to the shared jackpot, while lower-tier prizes are paid through a separate U.K. prize structure.
Unlike American jackpot winners, who can choose between a lump-sum cash payment or a 30-year annuity, U.K. winners will receive their prize through annual payments over 30 years administered by the U.K. National Lottery.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT.
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