Powerball’s UK Expansion Gives Hope For Poker Pools – Poker News

The Powerball grew significantly over the last few years. In November 2022, a lucky winner netted more than $2 billion, and another player won almost $1.8 billion in October 2023.

Now, the United Kingdom is joining in on the fun. The U.S.-based multi-state lottery is bringing the UK into the fold. Now, there are 45 states, the UK, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands involved in the drawing.

Powerball tickets went on sale in the UK earlier this week, the first time another country has been part of the lottery.

“This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball,” Tennessee Lottery and former president of the World Lottery Association President and CEO Rebecca Paul said. “More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement, and even greater impact for the communities we serve.”

Shared Player Pool Leads To Additional Growth

With the addition of the UK, prize pools could grow exponentially. The multi-country jurisdiction has a population of almost 70 million. It adds a pool of players almost twice that of California, the most populous American state.

The expansion comes after the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK, operator of the UK’s National Lottery reached an agreement earlier this year. UK gamblers will now see much larger payouts as well.

“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,” Allwyn UK CEO Andria Vidler said. “Powerball jackpots can soar into the billions, offering breathtaking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities.”

For American players, Powerball sales remain unchanged. The tickets still cost $2 each with and drawings are held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

There are some slight differences for British players, however. UK operators sell tickets for £4 ($5.35) with the exact same amount paid by American players contributed to the prize pool. Operators will hold the remaining funds for separate UK-only, lower-tier prizes.

Winners in the UK also won’t have the option to take a lump sum payment. Instead, they will receive annual payments for 30 years.

Powerball Used As A Model For Online Poker Growth?

The Powerball expansion could give hope for North American-based online poker players. In the U.S., online poker is legal on a state-by-state basis. Shared player pools help smaller markets survive through increased player and prize pools.

However, only a handful of states are a part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. Operators in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia can combine player pools in those states.

Connecticut also legalized online gaming in 2022 but hasn’t yet joined MSIGA. There isn’t an online poker platform available yet because the state’s population is too low to sustain an active player pool. Efforts to join MSIGA have so far been fruitless.

Rhode Island also legalized iGaming in 2023 but also isn’t a member of the national shared liquidity agreement. Maine became the first state to legalize online gaming since Rhode Island in January, and part of the law included the ability to join MSIGA.

Canada Looks Towards Online Poker Expansion Too

The Powerball’s inclusion of a foreign country gives poker players hope that the MSIGA could include other countries as well. The most likely partner could be America’s neighbor to the north.

Over the last year, sharing liquidity has been in the news north of the border. Alberta launched online gaming this month but doesn’t have online poker yet. The province needs to merge player pools for a viable poker ecosystem.

Despite being the most-successful ringed-in North American online poker market after launching regulated online gaming in 2022, Ontario is also seeking to merge player pools with other regulated markets. That could include European operators or even U.S. states in a similar move to the Powerball expansion into the UK.

The province won a ruling in the Ontario Court of Appeal in November that would allow operators to pool players with those in other provinces and countries. That was appealed to the Canadian Supreme Court in March by the Canadian Lottery Coalition, which represents several provincial lottery operators.

Alberta’s attorney general was later approved to intervene in the case and offer the province’s views on the issue in court and in written testimony.

The result of the case could have a major impact on the Canadian online poker landscape … and possibly the U.S. market if the provinces are allowed to merge player pools with American states. A ruling in favor of Ontario and Alberta could also mean Canadian provincial lotteries could share player pools with other countries as well.