UK launches National Lottery Powerball with record £300 million jackpot

The National Lottery introduced the Powerball game in the United Kingdom, offering tickets for £4 across UK retailers. The debut jackpot started at £300 million and can roll over without a cap, potentially reaching close to £1.5 billion. Winners will receive the prize as an annuity paid over 30 years, with a lump‑sum option for estates if the winner dies before full payment.

Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 14, while the jackpot odds are about 1 in 292 million. The first UK Powerball ticket was sold at Sewell On The Go in Pocklington, York, shortly after 5 a.m. on launch day. The game mirrors the US Powerball format, using five numbers from 1‑69 plus a Powerball number from 1‑26.