Powerball expanding to the UK: How prizes will differ and how US players may be impacted

(NEXSTAR) – Powerball, the national draw game responsible for six of the 10 largest lottery wins in the U.S., is already in every state where it is legally allowed to be. So now, it’s taking on a new territory, just across the pond: the United Kingdom.

The Multi-State Lottery Association, which oversees Powerball and the recently launched Millionaire for Life game, announced the “historic agreement” with Allwyn UK, the authorized operator for the nation’s lottery.

This is the first time a non-U.S. lottery will join the draw game, expanding the number of participating jurisdictions to 49 (Powerball is also available in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

“This is a win for Powerball players – as more people play, the faster jackpots grow, all while keeping odds the same for every Powerball drawing, wherever a player buys their $2 ticket,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, said in a press release.

How will U.S. Powerball players be impacted?

They will hardly notice a difference, Powerball officials explain. The way the game is played will remain the same, as will the non-jackpot prize tiers and odds.

What game officials hope will change is how quickly the Powerball jackpot grows. An analysis of the 10 most recent Powerball jackpots by Nexstar shows that, on average, roughly 50 days pass between each jackpot victory. To see jackpots near or exceed the $1 billion mark, it can take more than three months.

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