Big changes are coming to The National Lottery, and they’re all about giving players more chances to win big money without raising the price.
🎉 What’s happening first?
Right now, ticket buying is slightly limited while the system gets ready for the update. Normally, players can buy tickets for several weeks ahead, but for now you can only buy for the next draw on Saturday, June 6.
If you try buying more, you may see a message in the app explaining:
“Why can’t I buy tickets for as many weeks?”
The answer is simple: big changes are on the way starting Sunday, June 7.
📅 When things go back to normal
- Tickets reopen fully on Sunday, June 7
- First updated draw happens on Wednesday, June 10
- Draws still run at 8 PM every Wednesday and Saturday
So the schedule isn’t changing—just the gameplay is getting a major upgrade.
💥 What’s actually changing in Lotto?
This is being called the biggest update ever to the regular Lotto format.
Operator Allwyn says the new version introduces a two-round draw system, meaning:
- Each draw now has two separate rounds
- Each round uses its own set of six main balls + bonus ball
- You get two chances to win from just one ticket
Even better:
- Price stays the same at £2 per line
- Number of balls stays the same
💰 What this means for players
The jackpots and prizes don’t disappear—they stay familiar, but with more opportunities to win:
- Jackpots start at £2 million
- They can roll over up to 5 times
- Must-be-won event happens on the 6th draw
And there are now more ways to become a millionaire, including:
- Match 6 numbers → guaranteed £1M+ jackpot
- Match 5 + bonus ball → £1M fixed prize
Other wins still apply for matching 2 or more numbers.
🚀 Even more chances to win
The new format is expected to:
- Increase total winners
- Create nearly 345 millionaires a year (up from around 140)
Plus:
- The Lotto HotPicks add-on is also switching to the new two-round style (still £1)
🌍 Bonus surprise: Powerball is coming
The UK is also getting access to the famous US draw game Powerball for the first time.
Even though it’s drawn in America, UK players can now join in and play along.
🎯 Bottom line
This isn’t just a small tweak—it’s a full upgrade designed to give players more chances, more winners, and more excitement, all while keeping the same ticket price.
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