14th April 2026
The UK is about to enter a new phase of lottery history. For the first time, British players will be able to take part in a shared trans‑Atlantic jackpot through a formal agreement between Allwyn, operator of the UK National Lottery, and the US Multi‑State Lottery Association (MUSL), which runs Powerball. The result is a new UK‑specific version of Powerball capable of delivering £1 billion‑plus jackpots paid over 30 years dwarfing anything previously available in Britain.
This is the most significant change to the National Lottery since 1994, and it reshapes the entire landscape of UK lottery play.
How the UK Version of Powerball Will Work
The UK edition mirrors the US structure but is adapted for British regulation and tax rules.
Key features
Launch: Later this summer (pending final regulatory approval).
Price: £4 per line.
Jackpot: Shared with the US Powerball pot meaning UK players tap into the same enormous rollover engine that has produced multiple $1 billion+ wins in America.
Payout: Top prize paid as a 30‑year annuity, matching US rules.
Odds: Identical to US Powerball (see comparison below).
Good causes
Over 30% of UK ticket revenue goes to National Lottery good causes, expected to raise £1 billion extra over five years.
Why the jackpots are so large
Powerball grows rapidly because:
It has huge player bases across dozens of US states.
Rollovers accumulate aggressively.
The odds are long, so jackpots often climb into the hundreds of millions before being won.
By joining this pool, the UK instantly gains access to prize levels that EuroMillions and Lotto cannot match.
How Powerball Compares with Lotto and EuroMillions
Jackpot size
Powerball UK: £1 billion+ possible; routinely £200-500 million.
EuroMillions
Typically £20–100 million; capped around £200 million.
Lotto
Usually £2–10 million; capped around £50 million.
Powerball is in a different league.
Odds of winning the jackpot
Powerball UK: 1 in 292,201,338
EuroMillions: 1 in 139,838,160
Lotto: 1 in 45,057,474
Powerball offers the biggest prizes — and the longest odds.
Odds of winning any prize
Powerball UK: 1 in 24.9
EuroMillions: 1 in 13
Lotto: 1 in 9.3
Lotto remains the easiest game to win something, even if the prizes are smaller.
Ticket price
Powerball UK: £4
EuroMillions: £2.50
Lotto: £2
Powerball is the premium, high‑risk, high‑reward option.
Why This Agreement Matters
This deal is the first time the UK has joined a global jackpot ecosystem. It follows a £450 million technology upgrade that allows Allwyn to integrate with international systems securely.
The move also comes alongside a major overhaul of Lotto:
Every £2 Lotto ticket will now give two chances to win.
Annual UK Lotto millionaires are expected to rise from 140 to around 345.
But even with these changes, Powerball will be the flagship game the one capable of producing life‑changing, generational wealth on a scale the UK has never seen.
What This Means for UK Players
The upside
Access to record‑breaking jackpots.
A new game with global excitement and huge rollover potential.
More money for UK good causes.
The trade‑offs
Longer odds than any existing UK lottery.
A 30‑year annuity payout rather than a lump sum.
Higher ticket price.
For many players, Powerball will be an occasional "big dream" ticket rather than a weekly habit.
The arrival of Powerball in the UK marks a turning point. For the first time, British players can enter a lottery capable of producing £1 billion‑plus winners, backed by a shared US‑UK prize pool and delivered through a fully integrated National Lottery system.
Lotto will remain the everyday game. EuroMillions will stay the mid‑range giant. But Powerball becomes the super‑heavyweight, offering the biggest jackpots ever available in Britain with odds to match.