In brief
Powerball, a lottery that has turned many Americans into millionaires, will launch in the UK this summer under an agreement with Allwyn UK, the operator of the National Lottery. This marks the first international expansion of the game, with both US and UK players vying for the same jackpots. U.K. players will see larger jackpots than currently available in European lotteries.
Powerball Takes a Transatlantic Leap
Powerball, known for its million-dollar jackpots in the U.S., is set to reach across the pond. This summer, players in the UK including England and Scotland will now have the opportunity to purchase tickets and enter the game, thanks to an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK.
This groundbreaking move will be the first time a lottery outside the United States contributes to Powerball's collective jackpot. Powerball's Chief Executive, Matt Strawn, emphasized the importance of adapting to keep the game relevant: 'We’re constantly looking for ways to make sure that we’re keeping Powerball culturally and commercially relevant. And this really is the next natural progression in doing just that.'
U.S. players will see no changes to the game, including the ticket price fixed at $2 and the astronomical odds of 1 in 292.2 million for winning. With the inclusion of U.K. players, jackpots are expected to grow much faster due to a larger pool of players.
This rising popularity hinges on survey feedback from players who hope for quicker-growing jackpots. Strawn noted, 'Players consistently tell us in survey after survey that faster growing Powerball jackpots is what they’d like to see.'
For U.K. players, the chance to win larger prizes than what is currently offered in European lotteries comes as an exciting opportunity. Powerball’s largest jackpot reached a staggering $2 billion in 2022, far surpassing the U.K.’s EuroMillions largest payout of £195 million. And while U.K. jackpots will be advertised in pounds, the amounts will remain comparable to U.S. jackpots post-currency conversion.
Allwyn UK’s Chief Executive, Andria Vidler, added, 'Our ambition is to bring more games, more innovation, and more excitement to The UK National Lottery — and it doesn’t get more exciting than Powerball.'
As the new agreement will not change how Mega Millions operates, Powerball is set to continue its regular schedule with drawings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, providing opportunities to millions on both sides of the Atlantic.
