US lottery with 'uncapped' jackpot to launch in UK
The Powerball lottery format which has created some of the biggest jackpots in history is being launched in the UK.
A few years back California man Edwin Castro won over $2 billion (£1.47 billion) on one Powerball ticket and for the first time the lottery format is venturing outside the US.
The UK Powerball will cost £4 to enter the 'uncapped' jackpot where matching five numbers plus the Powerball nets you the big prize starting at at least £12 million and rising to as much as £1 billion or even more paid out over a period of 30 years.
While that sounds brilliant for a lucky winner the odds of winning that top prize are around 292 million to one and Brits will be playing against Powerball ticket holders in the US.
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Allwyn, the National Lottery operator, says the Powerball will be 'coming this summer', alongside some chances to the Lotto format which they say will increase the chances of winning.
You play the Powerball by picking five numbers ranging from 1 to 69 and then a final Powerball number ranging from 1 to 26, hoping they all line up to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.
Tickets will be available until 11:55pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the draw coming at around 4am in the morning UK time the following day as it takes place in Florida.
The UK version also comes with a specific ‘Match 2 main numbers’ tier of prizes which means Brits can win £8, while matching all five main numbers but not the Powerball results in a fixed jackpot of £1 million.
Allwyn CEO Andria Vidler said: "With its transformative jackpots, which will be paid to UK winners over time, we’re certain that our UK-specific version of the iconic Powerball game will really capture the UK public’s imagination.
"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.
"In turn, 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."
Around 30 percent of the ticket price of Powerball will go towards UK Good Causes.
That's not the only change to the lottery, as well as having the Powerball to play for there are some changes to Lotto.
Starting on 7 June, each £2 Lotto line will give players two chances to win due to a two-round format for the draws with two machines drawing two sets of six main balls and the Bonus Ball.
Allwyn says the change increases the chance of winning some kind of prize from a lottery ticket from one in 9.3 to one in 4.9, and they expect that the annual number of millionaires made by Lotto will rise from 140 a year to 345.
Players will be able to win in both rounds of the draw, with jackpots still starting at £2 million and rolling over up to five times before the sixth one ends up being a 'must-be-won' jackpot.
Vidler said that Lotto remained 'the best game to play if you want to become a millionaire' and the updated version 'gives players two chances of winning £1 million-plus for the same £2 they spend on each Lotto line today'.
Joe Harker