Allwyn overhauls Lotto, adds Powerball
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- Allwyn has struck a deal with the Multi-State Lottery Association to introduce a UK-specific version of Powerball, the first time the game will be available outside the US, pending regulatory approval.
- UK players will pay £4 per line to compete alongside US players for a shared jackpot potentially exceeding £1bn, paid out to UK winners over 30 years.
- The operator is simultaneously overhauling its main Lotto draw from 7 June 2026, offering players two sets of numbers per £2 ticket.
Allwyn, the operator of the UK National Lottery, has unveiled two major product changes: the introduction of Powerball to British players and the most significant restructuring of its core Lotto game since the draw launched in 1994.
Powerball arrives
Allwyn has agreed terms with the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) in the US to bring Powerball to the UK for the first time. Tickets will go on sale to UK players later this summer 2026, with an exact date to be confirmed once final regulatory approval is secured.
The product marks the first time Powerball has been made available outside the United States, and is separate from any previously available UK lottery products carrying a similar name.
UK players will pay £4 per line, selecting five main numbers plus a Powerball number, for a chance to win the shared jackpot alongside US participants. The jackpot, which can potentially exceed £1bn, would be paid to UK winners over 30 years.
A UK-exclusive “Match 2 main numbers” prize tier offering a fixed £8 prize has also been introduced, as has a “Match 5 main numbers” tier with a fixed prize of £1m.
Andria Vidler, chief executive of Allwyn, said in the company’s 14 April 2026 press release:
“We are delivering on our promise to bring more games, more entertainment and more innovation to The National Lottery. With extensive upgrades to our digital and retail channels now complete, we have a fantastic summer lined up, as we are now able to bring these exciting new games to our players.”
She added:
“By offering a wide range of complementary games, we’re ensuring there is something for everyone – returning the magic, building our player base and making sure The National Lottery remains part of the national conversation.”
Lotto restructure
The main Lotto game will undergo its biggest change since launch, offering players two sets of numbers per £2 ticket through a new two-round format. The rollout begins from 7 June 2026, with the first two-round draw on 10 June 2026.
Draws continue at around 8pm every Saturday and Wednesday. The change improves a player’s chances of winning any prize from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9.
The restructure is projected to more than double the number of annual Lotto millionaires, from approximately 140 to around 345.
Both launches follow the completion of a £450m technology overhaul at Allwyn, confirmed in the operator’s March 2026 results announcement, which migrated 18 million player records and more than three billion historical transactions to new platforms alongside upgrades to retail partner systems across more than 41,000 locations.
Good causes boost
Allwyn has tied both announcements to its broader charitable commitments. The Powerball draw is expected to direct over 30% of ticket revenue to good causes, delivering around £1bn in additional contributions over the first five years.
Vidler said:
“This will raise more money for good causes, helping us reach our goal of doubling weekly returns to good causes from £30 million to £60 million by 2034, with £33 million a week currently raised.”
According to Allwyn’s 2025 results, confirmed on allwyn.co.uk in March 2026, total National Lottery sales reached £8.1bn last year, up 3.5% year-on-year. More than £1.7bn was generated for good causes, with £967m raised in National Lottery Duty for the Treasury.
For regulators and the Gambling Commission, the Powerball approval process represents a significant test for cross-border jackpot products in the UK market.
Allwyn’s OPAP merger and expanded F1 partnership point to a group building product depth and brand reach simultaneously. Should the Lotto restructure deliver on its millionaire projections, it may set a benchmark for national lottery operators elsewhere considering comparable player engagement reforms.
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