Allwyn reveals two ‘huge’ new National Lottery games to arrive in stores this summer

National Lottery partnered stores will enjoy more draws, more prize winners and more sales opportunities starting on 7 June with the launch of the first of two major new game formats.

An overhaul of the £2 Lotto game will give players two lines of numbers rather than one, nearly doubling players’ chances of winning any prize, and more than doubling the number of millionaires created by the game each year from 140 to 345. Each draw will include two ‘rounds’ of six balls each, with players able to win either or both from either of their lines.  Guaranteed prizes of at least £1m will be paid for matching six main numbers of five main numbers and the bonus ball. The first draw under this new format takes place on 10 June, with tickets expected to go on sale from 7 June.

The second new game is arriving from the US – Powerball. This mega-jackpot game has paid out prizes of up to $2.04bn (circa £1.5bn). Three draws will take place each week with tickets available up until 23:55 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with each line costing players £4. UK players will win £8 for matching two balls, £1m for matching five balls and at least £12m for matching all five plus the Poweball. There is no official launch date yet, though Allwyn said it would be “later this summer”.

Allwyn UK National Lottery retailer commissions fall in 2025

Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler, said the new games are about “Returning the magic, building our player base and making sure The National Lottery remains part of the national conversation,” plus supporting its goal of doubling funds raised for good causes each week to £60m by 2035.

The impact in stores

Allwyn had long promised to return the price of a National Lottery ticket to £1, but unless this doubled the number of purchases, the move would’ve likely reduced both retailer commission and funds raised for good causes. By giving players the equivalent of two plays for the £2 price point, Allwyn appears to have worked towards a compromise.

When the National Lottery launched in 1994, participating stores reported a significant impact on weekly trade and footfall patterns, with Sunday mornings – when customers traditionally redeem winning tickets, becoming especially important. With potentially nearly double the number of customers returning to stores with winning tickets following these new-format Lotto draws, Vidler’s plan to bring the ‘magic’ back could come true for shop owners.

When launched, assuming retailer commissions are the same as for other draw based games, the Powerball will become the highest cash-profit generating National Lottery draw-based game for stores. Rollovers and seasonal draws are likely to be especially important sales moments.

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