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Powerball Goes Global: UK Players Can Now Compete for the Same Jackpot as Americans Beginning July 22

Published: July 2026


For the first time in its history, Powerball has expanded beyond the United States.

Beginning with the July 22, 2026 drawing, eligible players in the United Kingdom can officially purchase Powerball tickets and compete for the same growing jackpot as players across the United States.


The announcement marks one of the biggest changes in lottery history. Since Powerball's launch in 1992, the game has been exclusive to the United States and its participating jurisdictions. Now, through a partnership between the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and Allwyn UK, Britain's National Lottery operator, millions of additional players have joined the world's largest rolling jackpot game.


A Historic First for Powerball

Powerball has become one of the world's most recognizable lottery games thanks to jackpots that routinely climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars and occasionally exceed $1 billion.

Until now, participation was limited to:

  • 45 U.S. states

  • Washington, D.C.

  • Puerto Rico

  • U.S. Virgin Islands

Starting July 21, 2026, ticket sales officially began in the United Kingdom, allowing UK players to participate beginning with the July 22 drawing. It is the first time a country outside the United States has contributed to a Powerball jackpot.



Are UK Players Playing the Exact Same Game?

Not exactly.

The most important feature remains identical:

The jackpot is shared.


Every qualifying ticket sold in the United States and the United Kingdom contributes toward the same jackpot pool.

However, there are several important differences.


What stays the same

  • Same drawing

  • Same winning numbers

  • Same jackpot

  • Same odds of winning the jackpot (1 in 292.2 million)

  • Same Powerball drawings from Florida every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening (U.S. Eastern Time)


What changes for UK players

Although the jackpot is shared, several game rules differ.

For example:

  • Lower-tier prize amounts are different.

  • UK jackpot winners receive payments over 30 years rather than choosing between a cash option or annuity.

  • UK ticket pricing and payout structures are administered through The National Lottery and Allwyn UK.


Will This Make Powerball Jackpots Even Bigger?

Probably.

Lottery officials say one of the primary reasons for expanding internationally is simple:

More players generally mean faster jackpot growth.

Every time millions of additional tickets are sold without a jackpot winner, the next jackpot grows.

With approximately 69 million people living in the United Kingdom, Powerball suddenly has access to an entirely new player base.

Officials have emphasized that the expansion is designed to increase jackpot growth while keeping the core U.S. game unchanged, including the $2 ticket price and jackpot odds.


What Doesn't Change for American Players?

Many U.S. players immediately wondered whether their chances of winning had changed.


The answer is:

No.

Because the number matrix remains exactly the same:

  • Choose five white balls from 1–69

  • Choose one Powerball from 1–26

the mathematical odds remain unchanged.


Jackpot odds

1 in 292,201,338


Overall odds of winning any prize

1 in 24.87


Adding more players increases competition for the jackpot if multiple winning tickets are sold, but it does not make your individual ticket less likely to match the winning numbers.


Why Expand to the UK?

From a business perspective, the move makes sense.

Powerball is already one of the most recognizable lottery brands in the world.

By entering another English-speaking market with an established national lottery infrastructure, officials expect:

  • Larger jackpots

  • Increased global interest

  • Higher ticket sales

  • More excitement surrounding drawings

  • Additional funding for lottery-supported initiatives in participating markets


Could More Countries Join in the Future?

That remains unknown.

Officials have described the UK expansion as a historic milestone, but they have not announced additional international launches.

If the partnership proves successful, industry observers will likely watch closely to see whether Powerball eventually expands into other countries with compatible lottery systems.

For now, the United Kingdom is the only nation outside the United States participating in the shared jackpot.


How Big Can Powerball Get?

Powerball already holds several records for the largest lottery jackpots in history.

Previous jackpots have exceeded:

  • $1 billion

  • $1.5 billion

  • $2 billion

With millions of additional players now purchasing tickets in the UK, jackpot growth during long rollover streaks could become even more dramatic.

Lottery officials have said they expect jackpots to grow more quickly over time because of the expanded player base.


Frequently Asked Questions

When did UK ticket sales begin?

July 21, 2026. The first eligible drawing for UK players was the July 22, 2026 Powerball drawing.


Do UK players play for the same jackpot?

Yes. Both countries compete for the same rolling jackpot.


Are the odds different?

No. The odds of winning the jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million because the number matrix has not changed.


Can UK winners take a lump sum?

No. UK jackpot winners are paid over 30 years under UK game rules. U.S. jackpot winners continue to have payout options according to their jurisdiction.


Will U.S. ticket prices increase?

No. Powerball officials have stated that the U.S. ticket price remains $2.


Final Thoughts

Powerball's expansion into the United Kingdom represents one of the most significant changes in the game's history. While American players will continue buying tickets just as they always have, they are now sharing the world's largest rolling jackpot with millions of new participants across the Atlantic.


The core mechanics of the game remain unchanged for U.S. players, including ticket price, odds, and drawing format. What may change over time is the size of future jackpots, as a larger international player base contributes to faster-growing prize pools.


Whether this is the first step toward a more global Powerball or a one-country expansion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: beginning with the July 22, 2026 drawing, Powerball officially became an international game.


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