Britons have the opportunity to win an extraordinary £1 billion lottery prize following the recent announcement by Allwyn, the new operator of the National Lottery. Allwyn confirmed the upcoming launch of a new draw later this year that will be linked with the renowned American Powerball game.
Scheduled to occur three times a week, this draw will present participants with the chance to win life-changing sums, starting at a minimum of £12 million. Unlike other lottery draws, there is no cap on the number of rollovers allowed, potentially leading to a jackpot that could reach a staggering £1 billion or even more, marking the largest prize ever offered.
Winners of the top Powerball prize will receive the amount over a 30-year period, amounting to over £30 million annually for three decades. In the unfortunate event that the winner does not live through the entire payment period, the remaining sum will be paid to their estate, as stated by an Allwyn spokesperson.
Despite the enticing prize, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are challenging at 292 million to one, considering the competition from 48 US state lotteries. Additionally, the cost per Powerball line is £4, making it the most expensive National Lottery draw in history.
The UK’s version of the Powerball game involves selecting five main numbers between 1 and 69, along with one Powerball number from 1 to 26, or opting for a Lucky Dip. Tickets can be purchased online or in-store until 11.55 pm the night before the draws, which will be held around 4 am the following morning at the Powerball studio in Florida on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
This initiative marks the first time the Powerball game extends beyond US borders, following the introduction of the pan-European Euromillions draw in 2004. Simultaneously, Allwyn announced a significant alteration to the main Lotto draw, the most substantial change since its inception in 1994.
Effective from June 7, each £2 Lotto line will provide players with two chances to win, maintaining the same number selection process and introducing a new two-round format in every draw. The adjustment enhances the odds of winning any prize from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9 and is anticipated to double the number of Lotto millionaires from approximately 140 per year to around 345.
Andria Vidler, the CEO of Allwyn, expressed, “We are committed to enhancing The National Lottery by introducing more games, entertainment, and innovation. Our revamped Lotto offers players two opportunities to win £1 million or more for the same £2 spent on each Lotto line, resulting in numerous new millionaires annually. With the introduction of the UK-specific Powerball game featuring substantial jackpots paid over time, we are confident that it will captivate the UK audience.”
