UK Powerball Launches with Record-Breaking £300 Million Jackpot
Last Updated: Tuesday 21st July 2026, 11:01
Get ready for the chance to win some incredible prizes. Today marks the official UK launch of Powerball, giving players the chance to buy tickets for the world's biggest rolling jackpot game for the very first time.
This historic expansion will also be the first time that official Powerball tickets have been made available outside the United States. The exciting opportunity gives players across the UK chances to compete for life-changing prizes bigger than anything previously seen on the British lottery scene.
To celebrate the launch, the first UK draw features a staggering est. £300 million jackpot. This will be the largest prize amount ever offered to UK players, setting a new milestone while surpassing previous record jackpots available through EuroMillions.
A New Era for UK Lottery Players
Over in the states, Powerball has created over 2,000 millionaires since the game’s launch in 1992 and has been responsible for some of the biggest lottery wins in history. Notably, back in 2023 when one very lucky player, Edwin Castro, won the $2.04 billion jackpot, deciding to take a lump sum of $682.5 million.
With the introduction of the Powerball game in the UK, even more players will have the opportunity to win giant prizes. While the Powerball numbers drawn over in Florida will be used, the UK version offers a slightly different prize structure. Several of the tiers will depend on the ticket sales, while the second and last tiers will be fixed prizes. This is alongside the shared jackpot that if won, will be paid over 30 years.
Unlike any US winners of the Powerball, UK residents will not pay tax on their initial winnings. However, any investment income on the annual annuity payments are subject to tax. The UK advertised jackpot is an estimate of the total a winner would receive over the 30 years, reflecting the amount after tax. The odds to win any prize for the UK Powerball are 1 in 14.
How to Play Powerball
To get involved, players choose five main numbers from 1 to 69 plus one Powerball number from 1 to 26. If you’re stuck on which to pick, then you can also opt for a Lucky Dip. Your play slip will start off 4 lines that you can add to or remove from if you would like.
Powerball draws will take place Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings, three times a week. To be in with a chance, you’ll have to purchase your tickets before 11:55 PM on Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday the night before. Players can purchase tickets online or from participating retailers before the relevant draw closes.
Whether you're dreaming of becoming the next multi-millionaire or simply want the chance to play for the biggest prize ever seen in the UK, there's never been a more exciting time to enter a lottery draw.
With a record £300 million jackpot up for grabs for the Thursday draw, the countdown is officially underway.