UK National Lottery operator Allwyn UK has launched the hugely popular US Powerball format to the country.
Powerball is the effective ‘national lottery’ of the US as the country’s most widely played multi-state product, operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) in conjunction with 48 state lotteries.
Allwyn partnered with MUSL to bring Powerball to the UK, with the first tickets purchased this morning for the debut draw on Thursday 23 July. The deadline to purchase tickets for the draw is 11:55pm on Wednesday 22 July.
The first retail ticket was sold in Pocklington, Yorkshire, at the Sewell on the Go shop, just after 5am on Tuesday 21 July, while the first online ticket was bought at 5:54am via the National Lottery app by a player in Brighton.
“I’ve seen first-hand how a big win can transform lives,” said Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn. “But when people start imagining jackpots in the hundreds of millions of pounds, the conversation changes.
“People move beyond buying a bigger house or taking a dream holiday and start thinking about making a difference, whether that’s supporting loved ones, helping their local community, backing a cause they care about or turning a lifelong dream into reality.”
“Powerball brings new possibilities”
The main selling point of the Powerball is its huge jackpot potential. In the US, the Powerball has produced seven prizes in excess of $1bn since its creation in 1988.
In the UK, jackpots will start at £12m with uncapped prices potentially growing into the hundreds of millions. As has been the case in the US, prizes can exceed £1bn in exceptional circumstances.
This week’s draw will see an estimated jackpot of £300m, with ticket prices of £4.
Introducing Powerball to the UK could be a gamechanger for Allwyn’s fortunes, with the company having set itself the goal of doubling returns to good causes from £30m a week to £60m a week.
Returns to good causes are central to Allwyn’s remit as National Lottery operator.
The firm took on the fourth National Lottery licence in February 2024, having won the 2022 licence contest, unseating Camelot UK – the sole operator of the National Lottery since its creation in 1994.
Central to returns to good causes are ticket sales. Introducing a popular new format with huge jackpot potential could prove crucial to Allwyn’s chances of success as National Lottery operator, and its chances of securing a contract renewal in 2034.
“Powerball Money brings a whole new level of possibility to UK players,” Carter continued.
“It’s a chance to win the biggest jackpot ever offered through The National Lottery and to dream bigger than ever before.”