Date Set For Powerball’s Debut In The United Kingdom
The British are coming … to play Powerball with their American cousins starting with July 22 drawing
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July 4 may mark America’s independence from England, but future historians may look to July 21 as the date when the two countries finally buried the hatchet.
Why July 21? Because that’s the day people in the United Kingdom will officially be able to start purchasing Powerball tickets, thus creating a transatlantic lottery.
This marks the first time Powerball will be offered outside the colonies.
The first drawing available to U.K. players will take place Wednesday, July 22.
“This next step brings us closer to a thrilling milestone for Powerball,” Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery and former president of the World Lottery Association, said in a release. “More players means faster-growing jackpots, more excitement and even greater impact for the communities we serve.”
Cost of tickets will remain at $2.
The agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and Allwyn UK was first announced in April.
“We’re excited to give National Lottery players the chance to dream bigger, while supporting thousands of Good Cause projects across the U.K. every week,” said Allwyn CEO Andria Vidler. “Powerball jackpots can soar into the billions, offering breath-taking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities. As we begin the countdown to the first draw later this month, you won’t be able to miss Powerball’s arrival with a major launch lined up. We’re encouraging players to get involved when tickets go on sale, and we’ll be crossing our fingers for our first U.K. winner.”
Big jackpots
Jackpots are expected to grow with the addition of U.K. ticket-buyers, though the odds for American players will remain the same, as tickets purchased in the U.K. will contribute only to the Powerball jackpot. Lower-tier prizes will be separated by country.
Additionally, the money that is spent in America, stays in America.
“Just as importantly, this expansion does not change where the money goes,” Paul added. “Every Powerball ticket sold in the U.S. will continue to support programs and services right here at home.”
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Powerball draw studio in Florida. Players choose five white ball numbers from 1–69 and one red Powerball number from 1–26. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9, and jackpot odds are 1 in 292.2 million.
