National Lottery unveils £1bn jackpot game in ‘biggest ever’ change for UK players

New National Lottery operator Allwyn is bringing the megamoney US smash-hit Powerball to the UK for the first time – giving punters the chance to bag potential £1bn prizes

Lotto chiefs have unveiled its “biggest ever” change to the main draw – including a £1bn mega jackpot game.

National Lottery operator Allwyn is bringing the US smash-hit Powerball to the UK for the first time, giving punters the chance to scoop eye-watering prizes alongside American players. The new game will cost £4 a line, with players picking five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26 – or opting for a Lucky Dip.

Jackpots will start at around £12million and roll over if no one wins, meaning they can climb to more than £1billion. Any UK winner will be paid out over 30 years.

To land the top prize, players must match all five numbers plus the Powerball, while smaller prizes include £1million for matching five numbers and £8 for matching two. Draws are expected to take place three times a week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays – once the game launches later this year, pending final approval.

It comes as Lotto itself gets its biggest revamp since launching in 1994, with players set to get two chances to win from a single £2 ticket. The change will roll out from June 7, with the first double draw taking place on June 10 during the usual Wednesday and Saturday night slots.

Bosses believe the move could more than double the number of millionaires created each year – rising from around 140 to about 345. Allwyn has also splashed £450million on a major tech overhaul, moving millions of player records and billions of transactions onto new systems.

Chief executive Andria Vidler said: “We are delivering on our promise to bring more games, more entertainment and more innovation to The National Lottery. With extensive upgrades to our digital and retail channels now complete, we have a fantastic summer lined up, as we are now able to bring these exciting new games to our players.”

She added: “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.”

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