(NEXSTAR) – Powerball, the national draw game responsible for six of the 10 largest lottery wins in the U.S., is already in every state where it is legally allowed to be. So now, it’s taking on a new territory, just across the pond: the United Kingdom.
The Multi-State Lottery Association, which oversees Powerball and the recently launched Millionaire for Life game, announced the “historic agreement” with Allwyn UK, the authorized operator for the nation’s lottery.
This is the first time a non-U.S. lottery will join the draw game, expanding the number of participating jurisdictions to 49 (Powerball is also available in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
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“This is a win for Powerball players – as more people play, the faster jackpots grow, all while keeping odds the same for every Powerball drawing, wherever a player buys their $2 ticket,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, said in a press release.
How will U.S. Powerball players be impacted?
They will hardly notice a difference, Powerball officials explain. The way the game is played will remain the same, as will the non-jackpot prize tiers and odds.
What game officials hope will change is how quickly the Powerball jackpot grows. An analysis of the 10 most recent Powerball jackpots by Nexstar shows that, on average, roughly 50 days pass between each jackpot victory. To see jackpots near or exceed the $1 billion mark, it can take more than three months.
Sam rubs a customer’s purchased lottery tickets against a bluebird for good fortune at the Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In theory, with more players, ticket sales will be higher, which can drive the Powerball jackpot up at a faster clip.
Drawing times will still happen at 10:59 p.m ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tickets will still be $2 each, and funds will still benefit the causes supported by each jurisdiction’s lottery (in most cases, lottery proceeds go toward the state’s schools).
UK players to see different prize tiers, single jackpot payout option
If you’re playing the Powerball in the United Kingdom after playing in the U.S., you’ll notice several differences.
Play itself will remain largely the same. The pool numbers are unchanged, ticket sales cut off at a certain point (11:55 p.m., roughly four hours before the drawing, held at 4 a.m. UK time).
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It’s the ticket prices and the prize tiers that vary the most, as well as how the jackpot is paid out.
First, ticket costs. While you can play Powerball for $2 in the U.S., it’ll cost you £4 in the UK, the equivalent of about $5.
In addition to the jackpot, players in the UK will have nine ways to win, one more than players in the U.S. Here’s how those payouts compare:
| Numbers matched | UK payouts | US payouts | US payouts w/ Power Plays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 main + Powerball | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 main | £1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 4 main + Powerball | £33,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 – $500,000 |
| 4 main | £1,100 | $100 | $200 – $1,000 |
| 3 main + Powerball | £500 | $100 | $200 – $1,000 |
| 3 main | £52.10 | $7 | $14 – $70 |
| 2 main + Powerball | £30.80 | $7 | $14 – $70 |
| 1 main + Powerball | £15.30 | $4 | $8 – $40 |
| Powerball | £11.90 | $4 | $8 – $40 |
| 2 main | £8 | N/A | N/A |
Tiered prizes in the UK range between about $10.50 and $1,320,600, based on conversion rates as of Tuesday.
Most of the lower-tier prizes in the UK, with the exception of the lowest and highest non-jackpot prizes, will “vary depending on the balls drawn, the number of winners in each tier and currency exchange rates.” Only players in California can see these non-jackpot prize payouts vary; they remain fixed in all other jurisdictions.
Now, the jackpot. While winners in the U.S. opt for one of two different payout methods, a jackpot winner in the UK can only receive their payout as an annuity.
The estimated annuity payment for each Powerball jackpot is the larger advertised prize you’ll see, though U.S. players hardly ever choose it. The last jackpot claimed as an annuity was in Virginia in 2023, game records show. Before that, you’ll have to go back to 2014 to find a jackpot winner that didn’t opt for the smaller, one-time cash payment.
UK lottery officials say the decision to pay a jackpot winner over 30 years “provides a steady, reliable income over many years, helping to support long-term financial security,” a sentiment U.S. financial experts have shared.
What if US and UK players split the jackpot?
It’s not uncommon for two (or more) tickets to match the same jackpot-winning Powerball numbers. In that case, historically, players split the prize in half.
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The same process will happen should players separated by the Atlantic Ocean split a jackpot, officials explain. An equal portion of the pot will be sent to the UK National Lottery to be paid out in 30 annual payments, while any U.S. winner will get to decide if their portion is paid in a one-time payment or as an annuity.
When will UK Powerball ticket sales begin?
Officials said Tuesday that the UK will participate in its first Powerball drawing later this summer. The move still requires final regulatory approval from the UK regulator.
For now, U.S. players can still find Powerball sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The next drawing is set for 10:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and the current jackpot sits at an estimated $58 million.
