National Lottery announces ‘biggest ever change’ to draw
The National Lottery operator Allwyn is today announcing two major new draw-based games(Image: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
The change is expected to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires from around 140 a year to around 345
The National Lottery operator Allwyn is today announcing two major new draw-based games. It will be the biggest-ever change to the Lotto, alongside the launch of a UK-specific version of Powerball, the first time the game will be available outside of the USA.
From June 7, every £2 Lotto line will give players two chances to win. It will be all for the same price and with the same number of balls to choose from, with a new two-round format every draw. According to Allwyn, the change improves players’ chances of winning any prize from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9.
The change is expected to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires from around 140 a year to around 345. The UK specific version of Powerball is the UK’s first £1bn+ mega-jackpot game.
This 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.
Allwyn CEO, Andria Vidler, said: “We are delivering on our promise to bring more games, more entertainment and more innovation to The National Lottery. With extensive upgrades to our digital and retail channels now complete, we have a fantastic summer lined up, as we are now able to bring these exciting new games to our players.
“Lotto has always been the best game to play if you want to become a millionaire. Our new Lotto gives players two chances of winning £1m-plus for the same £2 they spend on each Lotto line today, creating hundreds more millionaires every year.
“And with its transformative jackpots, which will be paid to UK winners over time, we’re certain that our UK-specific version of the iconic Powerball game will really capture the UK public’s imagination.”
The new Lotto draw will first take place on Wednesday June 10. The Lotto draws will continue to take place at around 8pm every Saturday and Wednesday. The new two-round structure will see two sets of six main balls and a Bonus Ball drawn using two separate draw machines. This means a player could win in Round 1, Round 2, or both rounds, all from a single Lotto line.
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.
Powerball tickets will go on sale to UK players later this summer, with the exact date to be confirmed nearer the time. 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.
This content is sourced from www.liverpoolecho.co.uk and is shared for informational purposes only.
