Powerball Is Expanding to the UK — Here’s What It Means for Players

Powerball is getting even bigger. After an exciting year filled with massive jackpots, millions in prize payouts, and the launch of a new game designed to create millionaires for life, the popular lottery is now heading to the United Kingdom.

Starting July 21, lottery players in the UK will be able to buy Powerball tickets for the first time. Their first drawing will take place on Wednesday, July 22, thanks to a new partnership with Allwyn UK, the company that operates the UK's National Lottery.

Good News for U.S. Players

If you play Powerball in the United States, you won't have to learn any new rules.

Everything stays the same, including:

• Ticket price: $2 ($3 in Idaho and Montana)
• Drawing schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET
• Game rules, prize levels, and winning odds

The biggest expected change is behind the scenes. With millions of new players joining from the UK, ticket sales could increase, helping Powerball jackpots grow even faster.

Matt Strawn, Chair of the Powerball Product Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, previously said expanding into the UK is expected to be a major win for Powerball players.

How Will Powerball Be Different in the UK?

While the game itself remains almost identical, UK players will notice a few key differences.

Here's what changes:

• Tickets will cost £4 (about $5).
• Ticket sales close at 11:55 p.m. local time on drawing days, roughly four hours before the official drawing.
• Players can win a minimum £8 prize by matching just two white balls, a prize option that does not exist in the U.S.
• Non-jackpot prizes range from about $10.40 to $1.3 million, depending on exchange rates and the number of winners.

Unlike the U.S., some UK prize amounts can change based on the drawing results, the number of winners, and currency conversion rates.

Jackpot Winners Face One Major Difference

One of the biggest changes involves how the jackpot is paid.

In the United States, jackpot winners can choose between a lump-sum cash payment or a 30-year annuity. Most winners choose the cash option.

In the UK, however, jackpot winners must receive their prize as a 30-year annuity. UK lottery officials say this approach provides long-term financial security through steady annual payments.

If players from both the U.S. and the UK win the same jackpot drawing, the prize will still be split equally among all jackpot winners, just as it is today.

Current Powerball Jackpot

While UK players prepare for their first drawing, U.S. players are chasing an estimated $416 million Powerball jackpot, with a cash option worth $186.6 million. The next drawing is scheduled for Monday at 10:59 p.m. ET.

⭐ Key Takeaway: Powerball's expansion into the UK won't change the game for American players, but it could help produce even larger jackpots by bringing millions of new participants into the prize pool.