The National Lottery will add Powerball to its game line-up on 21 July, subject to final regulatory approval, bringing the US-originated jackpot game to UK players for the first time. Operator Allwyn UK will sell tickets at £4 through retail outlets, the National Lottery website and its app, with the first draw open to UK players scheduled for 23 July.
The move puts one of the world’s best-known lottery products into the UK market. Powerball has produced seven jackpots of more than $1bn, and its record top prize of $2.04bn was won in California in 2022. Allwyn is adding it while continuing a wider overhaul of how the National Lottery reaches players.
How the UK game will work
Powerball will be offered in the UK through the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), the US body that runs the game across participating jurisdictions. Draws for UK players are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with ticket sales closing at 11:55pm UK time on the night before each draw.
The UK version keeps the international jackpot structure but layers UK-exclusive prize tiers on top of it. Matching two main numbers will win a fixed £8 prize available only to UK players, while matching five main numbers will return a guaranteed £1m. Allwyn is positioning the uncapped jackpot as the game’s main draw for British customers.
Jackpots start at £12m
Powerball jackpots in the UK will start at £12m and will be uncapped, meaning the top prize rolls over and grows until it is won rather than being held at a ceiling. That structure is central to how the game builds very large prizes in its home market.
“This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball. More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve,” said Rebecca Paul, President and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery and a former President of the World Lottery Association (WLA).
Part of Allwyn’s National Lottery overhaul
The Powerball launch is one element of Allwyn’s modernisation of the National Lottery since it took over the fourth licence. That programme includes replacing retail terminals across the UK network and new partnerships with Aldi, GoPuff and Vodafone, all aimed at widening the points at which players can buy tickets. The launch comes as Allwyn expands internationally, having completed its OPAP merger and listed on the Athens Stock Exchange earlier this year. The group reported €4.1bn in net revenue for 2025.
“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. Powerball jackpots can soar into the billions, offering breath-taking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities. As we begin the countdown to the first draw later this month, you won’t be able to miss Powerball’s arrival with a major launch lined up. We’re encouraging players to get involved when tickets go on sale, and we’ll be crossing our fingers for our first UK winner,” said Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn UK.
What is at stake
Allwyn expects the National Lottery to generate around £1bn for UK Good Causes over five years, and it is presenting Powerball as one of the products that will help deliver that figure. Adding a high-profile jackpot game also gives the operator a new way to compete for player spend within the wider UK gambling market, where the National Lottery sits alongside commercial betting and casino operators.
For now, the timetable holds one caveat: the debut remains subject to final approval before tickets go on sale. If that clearance lands as planned, UK players will be able to buy their first Powerball tickets from 21 July, ahead of the opening draw two days later.
Source: Allwyn UK
