Powerball Goes Global as U.K. Players Join the Jackpot

Powerball is making history by expanding beyond the United States. Starting with the July 25 drawing, lottery players in the United Kingdom can officially buy Powerball tickets for the first time, thanks to a partnership between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK.

This marks the first time a non-U.S. lottery will contribute to the Powerball jackpot, creating a larger pool of players that could help jackpots climb even faster when no one hits the grand prize.

What Changes for U.S. Players?

Good news—nothing about the game itself changes in America.

Here's what stays the same:

• 🎟️ Tickets remain $2
• 📅 Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
• 🎯 Jackpot odds stay at 1 in 292.2 million

The biggest difference is that more people will now be buying tickets, which could lead to larger jackpots between drawings.

How the U.K. Version Works

British players will compete for the same jackpot, but there are a few notable differences:

• U.K. tickets cost 4 pounds
• Only the jackpot is shared internationally
• Smaller prizes follow a separate U.K. prize structure
• Jackpot winners in the U.K. receive annual payments over 30 years instead of choosing between a lump sum or annuity like U.S. winners

With the U.K. joining, 49 lotteries now contribute to the Powerball jackpot. Officials also say that more than half of every U.S. ticket sale will continue supporting state programs such as education, scholarships, veterans' services, parks, and recreation.

Tennessee's Biggest Powerball Wins

Tennessee has produced several Powerball jackpot winners over the years, including one share of the famous $1.586 billion jackpot in January 2016.

Notable Tennessee jackpot wins include:

• 💰 $259.8 million — Knoxville (June 11, 2014)
• 💰 $50 million — Harriman (April 11, 2015)
• 💰 $1.586 billion (shared) — Munford (January 13, 2016)
• 💰 $420.9 million — Portland (November 26, 2016)
• 💰 $198 million — Hendersonville (July 13, 2019)

Can Tennessee Winners Stay Anonymous?

No. Tennessee law requires the lottery to release the winner's name, hometown, and home state if requested. Winners are also listed by the Tennessee Lottery.

Are Lottery Winnings Taxed in Tennessee?

Tennessee does not charge a state income tax, so winners avoid state taxes on lottery prizes. However, federal taxes still apply to Powerball winnings.

What If You Give Away a Winning Ticket?

Once you gift a lottery ticket, it legally belongs to the recipient. If that ticket wins, the prize belongs entirely to them unless they voluntarily choose to share it.

If they do share part of the winnings, any gift exceeding the annual federal gift tax exclusion could trigger additional tax rules.

Top 10 Biggest Powerball Jackpots Ever

1. $2.04 billion — California (November 7, 2022)
2. $1.817 billion — Arkansas (December 24, 2025)
3. $1.787 billion — Texas (September 6, 2025)
4. $1.765 billion — California (October 11, 2023)
5. $1.586 billion — California, Florida & Tennessee (January 13, 2016)
6. $1.326 billion — Oregon (April 6, 2024)
7. $1.08 billion — California (July 19, 2023)
8. $842.4 million — Michigan (January 1, 2024)
9. $768.4 million — Wisconsin (March 27, 2019)
10. $758.7 million — Massachusetts (August 23, 2017)

Powerball's international expansion could make future jackpots grow even faster, giving players on both sides of the Atlantic even bigger prizes to chase.