Powerball Expands to the UK, Opening the Door to Even Bigger Jackpots

Powerball is officially going international. Starting July 21, players in the United Kingdom can buy Powerball tickets for the first time, making them eligible for the July 22 drawing.

The expansion brings the UK National Lottery into the Powerball jackpot pool, increasing the number of participating lotteries to 49. While ticket prices and jackpot odds in the United States stay exactly the same, the larger player base is expected to help jackpots grow faster.

What Changes for U.S. Players?

Good news—almost nothing changes for players in the United States.

• Ticket price remains $2 per play
• Jackpot odds stay exactly the same
• Cash prizes and payout structure remain unchanged
• Drawings continue every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET
• Jackpot winners can still choose either a lump-sum cash payment or a 30-year annuity

According to Powerball, adding more players simply increases the money flowing into the jackpot without changing the odds of winning.

How Powerball Works in the UK

Powerball tickets sold in the UK follow a different set of rules than those sold in the U.S.

Here are the key differences:

• A single Powerball play costs £4 (about $5.36).
• Tickets must be purchased before 11:55 p.m. UK time on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday to qualify for the next drawing.
• UK ticket sales contribute only to the Powerball jackpot, not to the lower-tier U.S. prize pool.
• Lower-tier prizes are managed separately by the UK National Lottery and range from £8 to £1 million, depending on how many numbers are matched.
• If a UK player wins the jackpot, the prize will be paid out over 30 years. Unlike U.S. winners, UK winners cannot choose a lump-sum cash option.

What Happens If Someone Wins in Both Countries?

A Powerball jackpot can already have multiple winning tickets, and that won't change with the UK joining.

Here's how it works:

• The U.S. lotteries and the UK National Lottery share funding only for the jackpot.
• If more than one ticket wins, the jackpot is split equally, regardless of whether the winning tickets were sold in the U.S. or the UK.
• U.S. jackpot winners can choose between a cash payout or a 30-year annuity.
• UK jackpot winners will receive their prize through a 30-year annuity only.

Local Benefits Stay Local

Although UK players now contribute to the shared Powerball jackpot, the money generated from ticket sales continues to support local lottery programs in each country. Every ticket purchased in the UK adds the same fixed U.S. dollar amount to the jackpot pool as a ticket purchased in the United States.

Lottery officials believe the international expansion will create larger jackpots, more excitement for players, and greater benefits for the communities supported by lottery funding.

Biggest U.S. Lottery Jackpots

• $2.04 billion – Powerball – November 7, 2022 – California
• $1.817 billion – Powerball – December 24, 2025 – Arkansas
• $1.787 billion – Powerball – September 6, 2025 – Missouri and Texas
• $1.765 billion – Powerball – October 11, 2023 – California
• $1.602 billion – Mega Millions – August 8, 2023 – Florida

Biggest UK Lottery Jackpots

• £195,707,000 (about $262 million) – EuroMillions – July 19, 2022
• £184,262,899 – EuroMillions – May 10, 2022
• £181,073,415 – EuroMillions – March 10, 2026
• £177,033,699 – EuroMillions – November 26, 2024
• £171,815,297 – EuroMillions – September 23, 2022

With millions of new players now joining from the United Kingdom, Powerball is entering a new era. While the rules remain largely unchanged for U.S. players, the expanded player base could help create even faster-growing jackpots and more record-breaking prizes in the years ahead.