Powerball Is Now in the UK—Here’s What It Means for US Players

Powerball tickets are now being sold in the United Kingdom, marking the first time the American lottery has admitted players from outside the United States and its territories.

British participation began Tuesday (July 21) ahead of Wednesday night’s (July 22) US draw. The expansion adds Britain’s National Lottery to a game already sold by 48 US lotteries, across 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

Previously, to most Brits, “Powerball” referred not to a lottery but to a popular dishwasher tablet brand.

Transatlantic Jackpots

What does this mean for US players? It’s difficult to say exactly because it depends on UK ticket sales.

A country with a population of almost 70 million suddenly contributing to the prize pool should help jackpots grow faster. But the additional entries also make it more likely that someone will hit the jackpot before a big rollover develops.

And of course, Americans could find themselves sharing jackpots with UK winners or even see a billion-dollar prize disappear across the pond – and they won’t pay any tax on it, since gambling winnings are tax free.

Participation will be more expensive for UK players, though. A UK line costs £4, roughly US$5.35, while Americans will continue to pay $2.

The good news is that the actual odds of winning the big prize will remain the same for everyone. The bad news is those odds are a tiny 1 in 292.2 million, which means you’re roughly 15,000 to 20,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning during your lifetime than to win the Powerball jackpot with a single ticket.

Uncapped Prizes

For UK players, Powerball introduces a world of uncapped jackpots. Previously, the lottery could roll over only five times, after which the next draw became a must-win event, with the jackpot distributed among lower-tier winners. Now, Brits can dream about becoming instant billionaires, rather than just multimillionaires.

This week the Powerball jackpot stands at $567 million.

Allwyn UK, operator of Britain’s National Lottery, has predicted strong interest and said the game could generate about £1 billion for UK good causes over its first five years.

Back in 2021, Idaho lawmakers voted to pull the state out of the Powerball if the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) went ahead with a plan to sell tickets in the UK and Australia over concerns about revenue flowing to foreign governments.

However, Powerball and Allwyn have emphasized that money raised locally will remain in the country where the ticket was sold. Revenue from US tickets will continue to support state and territorial lottery programs, while proceeds from British sales will contribute to UK National Lottery causes.