Powerball Is Going International as UK Players Join the Action This July
Powerball is getting even bigger. After a year filled with major jackpots, exciting new game launches, and millions paid out to lucky winners, the popular lottery is now expanding beyond the United States.
Starting July 21, players in the United Kingdom will officially be able to buy Powerball tickets through the country's national lottery operator. Their first chance to play will be for the Wednesday, July 22 drawing.
Here's what U.S. players need to know:
- Nothing changes for how you play Powerball in the United States.
- Tickets will still cost $2 (or $3 in Idaho and Montana).
- Drawings remain at 10:59 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Prize levels, odds, and gameplay all stay exactly the same.
Lottery officials believe adding millions of new players in the UK could help jackpots grow even faster by increasing ticket sales. According to Powerball leaders, the expansion is expected to benefit players on both sides of the Atlantic.
How Powerball Will Be Different in the UK
While the game itself stays the same, UK players will notice a few key differences.
Tickets will cost £4 (about $5), and sales will close at 11:55 p.m. local time on drawing days—roughly four hours before the winning numbers are drawn.
One extra feature also stands out. UK players can win a £8 prize by matching just two white balls, a prize option that isn't available in the United States.
Non-jackpot prizes in the UK range from roughly $10 to more than $1.3 million, although many lower-tier payouts may change based on exchange rates, the winning numbers, and how many players claim prizes.
Jackpot Winners Face a Different Payout
The biggest difference comes after hitting the jackpot.
In the United States, jackpot winners can choose between a lump-sum cash payment or an annuity paid over time. Most American winners choose the cash option.
In the UK, however, jackpot winners will receive their prize only as a 30-year annuity, providing steady annual payments designed to offer long-term financial security.
If both a U.S. ticket and a UK ticket win the same jackpot, the prize will simply be split, just as it is when multiple winning tickets are sold in the United States.
Current Powerball Jackpot
While UK players prepare for their debut, American players are chasing an estimated $416 million jackpot, with a cash option worth approximately $186.6 million. The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13.
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