Powerball has officially launched in the UK, allowing National Lottery players to enter the same jackpot draw as players in the United States for the first time. Tickets went on sale at 5am on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, with an estimated £300 million available in the opening UK-eligible draw.
Each line costs £4 and is available through authorised National Lottery retailers, the official website and app. Players must be aged 18 or over.
UK Powerball launch date, draw time and jackpot
- Sales opened: Tuesday, 21 July at 5am
- First UK-eligible draw: Wednesday night, 22 July
- UK result expected: Approximately 3.59am on Thursday, 23 July
- Estimated jackpot: £300 million
- Ticket price: £4 per line
- Entry deadline: 11.55pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
The jackpot is already above its usual £12 million starting level because nobody matched all six numbers in the US draw on Monday, 20 July. That draw produced main numbers 2, 9, 44, 53 and 59, plus Powerball 8. Those numbers do not apply to tickets purchased for the opening UK draw.
How to play Powerball in the UK
Players select five different main numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. A Lucky Dip can generate the complete selection automatically.
The five main numbers can match in any order, but the separately chosen Powerball must match the red Powerball drawn. Draws take place at the Powerball studio in Florida on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights, producing UK results early on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The usual UK draw time is 3.59am. It may temporarily move by one hour during spring and autumn because Britain and the US change their clocks on different dates.
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Powerball UK prizes and winning odds
Matching all five main numbers and the Powerball wins a share of the international jackpot. If several tickets match all six numbers, the jackpot is divided between them, including winners located in different participating countries.
The UK game includes an additional prize category for matching two main numbers without the Powerball, paying a fixed £8. Matching all five main numbers without the Powerball pays a fixed £1 million. Other non-jackpot prizes can vary according to the combination drawn and the number of winners.
The chance of matching all five main numbers and the Powerball is approximately one in 292.2 million per line. More entries may help jackpots grow faster, but they do not improve the odds attached to an individual ticket. Previous results cannot predict future numbers.
Why the UK and US jackpot figures differ
The estimated US jackpot and advertised UK amount are not directly comparable. The American figure is shown before tax and normally offers winners a choice between annual payments and a reduced cash option.
The British jackpot is an estimated post-UK-tax amount paid over 30 years. UK winners cannot choose an immediate cash alternative. Additional tax could apply in unusual circumstances, such as when the winner is not a UK tax resident.
Allwyn’s official UK Powerball information confirms that jackpots are uncapped and can eventually reach hundreds of millions or exceed £1 billion after enough rollovers. That figure describes the game’s potential rather than a guaranteed jackpot for every draw.
How a UK jackpot winner will be paid
A British jackpot winner will receive scheduled payments over 30 years instead of the full prize immediately. The concept resembles the UK Set For Life long-term payment structure, although its monthly prizes and rules are different from Powerball.
Anyone winning a substantial amount should follow the National Lottery’s official claim process. Retail tickets should be signed and stored securely, while online entries remain connected to the player’s account.
Checking Powerball results safely
Winning numbers should be checked through the National Lottery website, app or an authorised retailer. The National Lottery will not demand an upfront fee to release a genuine prize. Unexpected messages claiming a win without a valid ticket should be treated as potential scams.
Players following other UK draws can check the latest National Lottery and Thunderball results separately from the new Powerball schedule.
What the launch means for UK good causes
Allwyn prepared around 43,500 retail partners with new play slips, terminal guidance and ticket materials before the launch. Powerball is expected to generate approximately £1 billion for UK good causes during its first five years, with money from British ticket sales supporting eligible projects across the country.
Powerball is a game of chance. Players must be 18 or over and should only spend what they can afford.
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