Big Changes at the National Lottery After Tech Overhaul
Things are shifting for Allwyn in early 2026. The company reported a dip in UK sales and earnings, but it says a massive tech upgrade has completely reset the stage for what comes next.
Even with the slowdown, Allwyn is calling this moment an “inflection point”—basically saying the hard work is done and better results could be ahead.
Sales Take a Hit in Early 2026
For the first three months of the year, UK gross gaming revenue fell about 7% to 942 million euros (£814.2 million). Earnings dropped even more sharply, falling from nine million euros (£7.8 million) last year to just four million euros (£3.5 million).
The company pointed to a couple of reasons:
- Tough comparisons with last year’s huge EuroMillions jackpot boost
- Extra costs tied to upgrading its online gaming system
So while numbers are down, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
A Massive £450 Million Tech Upgrade
One of the biggest stories here is the completion of a £450 million modernization project.
This wasn’t a small update. It included:
- Moving 18 million player accounts
- Migrating over 3 billion past transactions
- Rebuilding the lottery website and mobile apps
- Upgrading systems used by retail partners
In simple terms: the entire lottery backbone got rebuilt.
And now that it’s finished, Allwyn says it can finally shift from spending mode to growth mode.
What’s Coming Next for Players (and It’s Big)
With the tech work done, new games are rolling out fast.
Starting June 7, the Lotto game gets its biggest change since 1994. For the first time ever, players will get two chances to win per £2 ticket.
That update alone is expected to:
- More than double the number of Lotto millionaires
- Grow winners from ~140 a year to about 345
Later this summer, the UK will also get access to Powerball, the world’s biggest jackpot game. Players will pay £4 per line to join in.
More Games on the Way
Allwyn says this is just the beginning. More new lottery products are already in development and waiting on approval.
The company made it clear: more innovation is coming soon.
Bigger Picture for the Group
Across the board, the wider Allwyn business is actually growing. Global earnings jumped 24% to 443 million euros (£383 million) in the first quarter, while net sales rose 21%.
The company has also expanded through a major merger with Greek gaming firm OPAP, forming a global lottery and gaming group worth around 16 billion euros (£13.8 billion).
The combined business is now publicly listed in Athens, with future plans to explore another listing in either London or New York.
Quick Takeaways
- UK sales dipped early in 2026 after a major tech overhaul
- £450M system upgrade is now fully complete
- Lotto changes arrive June 7 with double-winning chances
- Powerball launches in the UK this summer
- Global earnings are still rising despite UK slowdown
Login