The National Lottery's largest-ever jackpot game, Powerball, launched in the UK today, offering a £300 million prize after a rollover in the US. This marks the first time the game, originally founded in the US in 1992, has expanded outside of America. UK players will pay £4 per line to compete for shared jackpots that can grow into the billions, though winnings will be paid out over 30 years, unlike in the US where winners can choose between a lump sum or annuity.
The UK version of Powerball introduces an extra prize tier—'match two main numbers'—which offers a fixed £8 prize, exclusive to British players. Other prize tiers vary based on the numbers drawn and the number of winners. The odds of winning the jackpot remain at 1 in 292 million for both UK and US players. Tickets are available online and in stores until 11:55 PM the night before each draw.
The expansion allows UK players to compete for larger jackpots than those available in European lotteries, such as EuroMillions, which has a maximum payout of €250 million. US lottery officials anticipate that the expanded player base will accelerate jackpot growth, potentially boosting sales as larger prizes attract more participants. However, UK players will only contribute to the jackpot, with lower-tier prizes following a different structure than in the US.