United Kingdom lottery players will soon participate for massive billion-dollar jackpots
By Kate Northrop
The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and the UK National Lottery have jointly announced that the US-based Powerball multi-state lottery game will be expanding to the UK.
It's official: Powerball is growing beyond North America into the United Kingdom, where lottery players overseas will soon have the opportunity to play for the billion-dollar jackpots that only US lottery players have traditionally had access to.
MUSL made a historic agreement with Allwyn UK, the operator of the UK National Lottery, that will increase the number of participating lotteries in the Powerball multi-state game from 48 to 49.
This is the very first time a non-US lottery will contribute to a US-based lottery jackpot, perhaps inviting a new alternative to Powerball's definition as a "multi-state" game.
MUSL and Allwyn said they expect that the addition of the UK player population will encourage Powerball jackpots to grow more quickly without altering core game features, rules, odds, and ticket prices that US players value.
"This partnership expands the player base in a way that benefits every jurisdiction participating in Powerball," Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn said in a press release. "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."
"We're delighted to be joining the Powerball community," Allwyn UK CEO Andria Vidler said in a statement. "Our ambition is to bring more games, more innovation and more excitement to The UK National Lottery — and it doesn't get more exciting than Powerball, with its transformative jackpots and life-changing contribution to good causes."
Expanding the game to the UK was also motivated by MUSL's desire to strengthen its "long-term sustainability" and the "good causes it supports." According to MUSL, more than half of every $2 Powerball ticket stays in the jurisdiction where it is sold, which is funneled to different public programs and services determined at the state level.
Powerball alone has generated about $38 billion for good causes, education, scholarships, veteran services, parks and recreation, and other public programs, MUSL said.
"For decades, Powerball proceeds have provided real benefits to Americans, year after year. This will not change," Strawn added. "This summer's expansion to the UK helps secure the game's future as a dependable source of funding for the public programs and services our players care about."
US state lotteries and the UK National Lottery will pool funds only for the Powerball jackpot, not lower-tier prizes. Tickets purchased in the UK will contribute the same fixed US dollar amount per play to the jackpot pool as tickets purchased in the US, the only difference being that UK players will have a different lower-tier prize structure and payouts.
The biggest difference is that jackpot winners in the UK will not have the option of claiming the jackpot as a lump sum, rather it will be paid out over 30 years "to ensure the amount received is much higher than if the same prize was offered as an upfront, one-off payment," the National Lottery explained.
"As well as offering the winner a higher overall prize, this provides a steady, reliable income over many years, helping to support long-term financial security," the National Lottery continued.
There are no other discernable game changes to how Powerball is played in the US. The US prize structure will remain the same. Players from all jurisdictions will continue to pick five white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26 with unchanged odds of 1 in 292.2 million odds at winning the jackpot.
The UK National Lottery will be required to abide by the same security standards and compliance policies as US lotteries, MUSL advised.
The UK Gambling Commission is expected to give final regulatory approval soon, in time for the Powerball game to begin operating in the UK later this summer. UK players will have the option of buying tickets either in person at retailers or online via the National Lottery's website and app. Players can select their own numbers or opt for a Lucky Dip (Quick Pick).
UK players will have to purchase their tickets by 11:55 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Drawings will continue to take place in the US every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at around 4:00 a.m. UK time, the National Lottery said.
Tickets in the UK will cost £4 each, with purchases available up to 4 weeks in advance.
UK-only Powerball Prize Structure
The following prizes are what UK lottery players will be paid out for tickets purchased in that country. US lottery players will continue with the same prize structure offered today.
| Prize Categories | Estimated (or fixed) UK Prize |
|---|---|
| 5 Main numbers + Powerball | Jackpot paid over 30 years |
| 5 Main numbers | £1,000,000 (fixed prize) |
| 4 Main numbers + Powerball | £33,000 |
| 4 Main numbers | £1,100 |
| 3 Main numbers + Powerball | £500 |
| 3 Main numbers | £52.10 |
| 2 Main numbers + Powerball | £30.80 |
| 1 Main number + Powerball | £15.30 |
| Powerball | £11.90 |
| 2 Main numbers | £8 (fixed prize) |
Just great. American money going to foreign citizens. Someone said it best years ago when I joined "change is NEVER good to the player"
Will a Uk winner pay any federal tax?
*. .. and the starting jackpot will be...
June 10 will be the last date for my powerball! I'm not funding foreigners! Uk is a messed up country filled with corruption by third world thieves!
Well I guess after that goes into effect I won't be playing anymore. First mega millions and now Powerball. Looks like it's just state lotteries now. Lame.
Thank you for the heads up Kate....I will now start saving myself $16/wk. MUSL, please change your abbreviation to MUNL....Best of luck to all that are participating after June 9th,2026.
I love this - was looking forward to it.
Change is good - keeps things interesting.
I think it should spread to Australia, Canada and Europe as well.
I like that they will keep the ticket cost at $2 in the US.
Hope for an increase in the jackpot reset amount.
I would have liked if they scrapped the taxes on the US side of things if the game won't be taxed on the UK side.
I hope that on the UK side the annuity does not get affected by the death of a jackpot winner since there is no cash option. An 80 year old winner may not live to be 110 so it would be good to have the payments continue to the winners estate.
A lot of our tax money is used abroad, a good example is the ongoing Ukraine/Russia conflict. You can't entirely control how Uncle Sam spends your tax dollars. The good thing is if one does not want their dollars paying a player in UK, you just don't play. Same is true for a UK player who does not want their pounds paying a US winner.
I don't see any barriers that would make me not play: the price is the same, the odds as well.
The world is a village, the borders are on the maps, the financial industry knows that too well, so too those that travel far and wide.
Can't wait for Summer ⛱️
Bring it on 🤑
This is going to be great fun to watch!
hard pass. hope the regulators give this a
That'd be a dumb idea. I hope it doesn't happen!
Hmmmmm P.B. available in UK ...check.
Okay, MM available in CHINA?! checkmate!
Just thinking aloud as to what MMs next move might be.
Speaking of MM ......sales are down 24% in Massachusetts in the year since the price change took place .
Time for a grilled cheese and liverwurst sandwich with a side of spoiled olives.
Have a shaggy day, ya'll!
ShagE3
I don't agree with this change. Americans can't play Euromillions, eurojackpot, lotto max , and etc. MUSL is just getting greedy at this point. People will continue to play but I will not
Perhaps someone will start a discussion topic on this MUNL adventure...with a poll, if you will play, what $ figure you will jump in at...the usual stuff
It looks odd to see prizes listed in British pounds.
Unless I get to buy euromillions tickets I don't like this.
Actually l support this idea 100 percent. And l tell you why. Powerball has two options raise Price like Mega million or increase players. This means one thing Powerball will grow faster and can eventually hit $3,000,000,000 to $4,000,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 all in two months instead of three months. Any Big Jackpot is perfect for JoeBiglotto 😃👍🤠😁🥳🇺🇸🇺🇸 Plus UK currency is always Neck and Neck with US dollars so perfect. 👍🐬🐬
My assumption..
Likely "operate similarly to California"..
Prizes less than the jackpot. Because they are UK, won't be taxed at payout (tax collected at point of sale). No federal tax because effectively "UK lottery".
Jackpots.. Because they are pooled... and payed out only as an annuity.... not sure...
* True, but only if British players are willing to go for the 30 year payout & if they find the odds attractive enough.
In the UK, lottery prize money is tax free and winners have the right to remain anonymous.
That definitely applies to the "lesser prizes" which are all funded by UK sales. But there is an issue with the jackpot where funds are mingled...
It is likely that it will be paid out tax free.... because UK isn't USA.. But not sure how the US will get its tax.. Even nonresident aliens have to pay 30%.
Maybe the "tax free' is why it is only being paid as an annuity.
l read what the Article says Above ☝️ it says British players do not have the option to take Lump sum. And that any British player that wins Power Ball must take the Annuity. So Annuity is their only available option. Some people ask about federal tax. There are two ways to work around it . One pay your federal tax After you win 🏆 or Two your federal tax adds 20 cents or ten cents to the cost of the ticket. And l think Powerball should eliminate federal and state tax Completely. Treat it like lottery retailers. A little percent of ticket cost automatically go to federal tax so winners are Tax free all over the world. The same end game but different approach 😃🙏👍
Normally someone in UK playing the US Powerball has to pay 30% federal tax on prizes
however, not all of the jackpot is "USA money".. some proportion is UK money...
So why should they be paying federal tax on UK money won in UK?
We already do...ISRAEL!
The population of England is 60 million and California is 40 million.
The London area has 15.1 million while L.A. has 12.7 million people.
So I can hear it now "Why is England always winning?/why is London always winning?"
You can see this one coming a mile away!
NO! That's just the withholding amount. They would be subject to the whole 37% too.
First and foremost l will admit l do not know the Tax agreement between Powerball and Uk. But based on what l do Know it is going to be mutually beneficial. This is why . Number one the Jackpot is one thing but Uk has other new features attached to there game like second price or third price. As to why Uk 🇬🇧 residents have to pay Federal tax on Powerball that is left to be determined by their agreement details. So uk is like Puerto Rico dilemma and puerto rico 🇵🇷 is still standing. Remember Puerto Rico does not pay Federal tax and Uk 🇬🇧 does not pay Lottery Tax. And l remember when Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 Joined Powerball and Won 🏆 the first month of Joining people were screaming Federal tax federal tax federal tax. Today Puerto rico 🇵🇷 is still standing strong 💪 with powerball. So in two years time Uk 🇬🇧 will be standing strong 💪 with Powerball and at least one or two Uk winners of $300,000,0000. So let's all relax and enjoy the Game. At the end of the Day you still need a Dollar and a Dream. 😴 the only difference now is jackpot will grow to a billion in less than two months compared to three months before the Merger lol 😝 Am so excited. But guess which country l want to also Join Power Ball Well it's Australia 🇦🇺 🙏🥂🪐🪐
A prize won in England will not be subject to U.S. taxes unless won by a U.S. citizen. I am not an expert but this is relatively easy to see.
A prize won in the U.S. by a non citizen would be subject to the full 37% regardless of their withholding amount.
Right? I was thinking of this. Americans cannot participate any other foreign countries lottery games unless they are visiting the country . Will we be able to play the UK's National lottery ? Or Canada's Lotto Max? Or Australia's Powerball ? No. We can't even nationally play a lottery game through an app like they can with the Euromillions.
It seems the Powerball keeps chasing growth despite a of ticket sales. Instead of asking why ticket sales are declining they think price increase or more players. People are saying they want this because we will have more billion dollar jackpots. They said the same for the MegaMillions price increase . Yet where are big billion dollar jackpots and fast growing jackpots since $5 price tag ? There is a reason ticket sales are declining.
The statement made above about USA 🇺🇸 not able to play in other countries lottery is not exactly true. Let's break it down . USA 🇺🇸 has the Biggest and best Lottery in the World so USA 🇺🇸 is selling lottery plans to the World. If other countries had the best lottery's then they can sell it to USA 🇺🇸. So Remember it's not that other countries do not want to sell lottery to USA its just that USA doesn't exactly like to follow. The only other Lottery that can compete with USA 🇺🇸 lottery is Spanish ElGordo but unfortunately that takes place once per year at Christmas 🎅 worth Billions. Even though am in USA 🇺🇸 l buy ElGordo online with absolutely no problem and if l win Spain 🇪🇸 made it clear they will withhold only 20 percent Tax short and simple. So if America 🇺🇸 wants to Join Euro millions or Lotto Max that is another story for another day but l can tell you Americans addicted to Billion dollar Powerball or Mega millions do not want Lotto Max or Euto millions not exciting. The only Game that can Excite Americans is ElGordo 🙏😁💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
Also the current population of Australia 🇦🇺 is approximately 30 million they are the ones l want to see Join Powerball 😇
My only Concern in all of this is Currency fluctuations does that mean if l convert my currency l can buy more tickets for same Game just curious but other than that sounds great 👍
In the UK the game is different
1) The ticket will cost 4 pounds or $5.00 at today's exchange rate
2) If you get (2) of the white ball numbers you get 8 pounds or $10.00
3) if you win the jackpot you can't get the cash option only the annuity (You can sell that annuity to an insurance company for NPV (Net Present Value) in a heartbeat. )
4) In the US - lottery sales are $100 billion a year but only $10 billion in the UK.
5) US Powerball ticket prices in the UK will be the most expensive ticket in the country and some of the lotteries available there have large jackpots at lower prices. I don't see US Powerball in the UK selling a lot of tickets until the jackpot reaches a very high level.
6) Statistically, the UK should win one jackpot every two or three years, unless other Europeans get in on the act and travel to UK or can buy tickets online.
Man, I could write a book on this one. So I'll keep it brief...
How do you expect the prize pool to grow faster when you're adding 20% more players ??? (Not really- see next item.)
UK players will reject this based on the ticket cost and taxable (US portion) jackpots.
This is just a test market to see if Powerball can sell a $5+ ticket (£4= $5.44 US). Why 💩 in your own back yard when you can do it in someone else's?
MegaMillions is paying the price of greed and Powerball is next.
You are so correct about Mega Millions. Powerball seems to build up faster vs. that measly $10 million more for MM between drawings.
KY lottery still has a promotion that if you buy $10 MM on one ticket, you get a free $2 Powerball. It ends when MM reaches $300 million.
Asked the clerk yesterday about the Powerball ticket sitting way back there. She said it is $17 with PP/PB for a few draws. Said person probably forget about it. She came home with me for safekeeping!
Which foreign lottery games can I participate in as an American while physically in the United States? I’m not referring to shady websites or third party sellers that claim you can purchase tickets online . I can't go to the Euromillions website right now and purchase a ticket as American in the USA. You can only do this if you are in one of the official participating countries
That’s my main point. But I wouldn’t say America has the best lottery games that’s just an opinion. I think tax-free lottery winnings are better, in my opinion, but I understand what you’re saying.
Most people I know don’t really care for the big billion-dollar annuity jackpots with cash options that are lower compared to a decade ago. I just don’t personally think the Powerball should become international, it feels like pure greed. They said increasing Mega Millions to $5 would lead to faster growth and bigger jackpots, yet Mega Millions hasn’t reached a billion-dollar jackpot since the change. So adding the UK to the Powerball would not automatically guarantee bigger jackpots or more billion-dollar draws.
The price increase for MM started in April last year. One year later, no billion dollar jackpot or fast growth like they claimed.
I honestly think Powerball will hurt their sales if they go through with this idea. I remember last year, multiple states reported a decline in Powerball ticket sales as well.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
Yeah I love my money going to pay a jackpot winner in the UK, when I can't even buy tickets from another country because of our laws. Or even over state lines. Just drink the Kool-Aid all you want. A larger percentage of players don't want our money going to foreigners
I am shocked that people think their money is going to a foreign country or player that is the most Sad 😔 thing have heard today. Number one you bet $1 and they bet $1 or you bet $2 and they bet $2 or you bet $3 and they bet $3 and you say well l don't want my money going to a foreigner or foreign country.
Number one have you been to a place called Switzerland 🇨🇭 they have something called Switzerland Banks 🏦 go inside and ask them how many Americans have accounts and also how about tax havens in the Caribbean islands go and ask them how many Americans have money in Blind trusts. The point is you said Your Money and Go those are the two words you never understand. Any person that places a bet on a Gambling table and losses a bet should that person have any say where or what the winner does with the money.
My point is if you don't want your money going to a foreign country is like saying you don't want your oxygen you breathe going to a foreign countries.
Another thing people in the USA 🇺🇸 could win the lottery and cash out money and move to a foreign country and people in a foreign countries can win and bring their money to USA. So your reasoning doesn't make sense you worry yourself too much.
Look at Las Vegas do you know how many foreigners visit Las Vegas and do you know how many countries have Visa free travel with USA 🇺🇸. Visa free travel means you can travel for 30 days to the USA 🇺🇸 play Powerball or mega million win and take your money to any part of the world you wish. So this argument is not reasonable. Remember the Lady Gloria she won like $500,000,000 in Florida and people said Florida always win but the lady just moved down from Maine.
To make matters worse for you all the lottery now invented Anonymous Claiming of lottery funds. If you are interested in knowing if your lottery money is going to a foreign country or foreign player why did you agree to Anonymity makes zero sense. 😇😁🍺🙏
The Simple truth of the matter is People in USA 🇺🇸 will love to Win the lottery and hide their money in a foreign country to keep it safe from their Government and the people in UK 🇬🇧 will love to win lottery and hide their money in a foreign country to keep it safe from their Government. So your argument and reasoning is flawed
I just Ask My Ai two important questions. Question number one How many Americans currently live in the UK 🇬🇧 and Australia 🇦🇺 . And question number two how many Americans visit Uk 🇬🇧 and Australia 🇦🇺 per year. The reason l ask that is because while you may think Uk residents are the ones to buy Powerball there you may be shocked to find out Americans are the ones buying in Uk 🇬🇧 and Australia 🇦🇺 .
My Ai answer
How many Americans are currently living in uk 🇬🇧 and how many Americans are currently living in Australia 🇦🇺
Answer
There isn't one definitive official number, as estimates vary depending on the source and methodology. However, the most recent estimates suggest the figures are:
· 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Estimates range from 171,000 to 325,000.
· 🇦🇺 Australia: Estimates range from 117,000 to 218,000.
These figures generally include civilian adults and children, with some also accounting for those with dual citizenship, though they often exclude U.S. military personnel and their families.
Here is a closer look at how the different estimates break down:
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
· Low Estimate (~171,000): Often cited by migration-focused sources and think tanks.
· High Estimate (~325,000): Reported by the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), which relies on U.N. data and national censuses.
🇦🇺 Australia
· Low Estimate (~117,000): Based on figures from organizations like World Population Review.
· High Estimate (~218,000): Based on AARO's estimates, though note that other sources, including some Australian government datasets, report a more conservative figure of around 101,000 to 118,000.
I hope this helps clarify the current estimates. Would you like me to help find more detailed demographic breakdowns for either country?
Second question
Another question How many Americans visit Uk 🇬🇧 per year and how many Americans visit Australia per year
Based on the latest data, annual American visits to these countries are:
· 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Approximately 5.6 million visits in 2024. Americans are the largest group of overseas visitors, with this number reflecting a continued recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
· 🇦🇺 Australia: Estimates for 2024 range from 669,000 to 711,000 short-term visitors. This makes the US the country's third-largest international market, and visitor numbers have seen growth of over 19% recently.
📝 Key Points on the Data:
· UK Data: The 5.6 million figure is the most recent official estimate from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) for 2024, as detailed in their Travel Trends report.
· Australia Data: The 669,000-711,000 range comes from tourism statistics and industry sources. This data is often reported for financial years (July to June) rather than calendar years.
I hope this information is helpful for your research. If you need more detailed figures, feel free to ask.
If USA Powerball adds Uk 🇬🇧 and Australia 🇦🇺 to be able to play their what number of Americans could be playing Powerball from foreign countries curious 😊🙏
If USA Powerball were to expand to both the UK and Australia, you could be looking at roughly 440,000 to 1.07 million Americans having the potential to play, depending on whether the game was available only to residents or also to tourists.
Here is how those numbers break down by group:
· 🇬🇧 Americans in the UK: 171,000–325,000
· 🇦🇺 Americans in Australia: ~101,000–218,000 (Combining low-end ABS data & AARO estimates)
· 🇬🇧 Annual US Visitors: 5.5–5.6 million (Short-term visitors who could play if the game was open to tourists)
· 🇦🇺 Annual US Visitors: ~385,000–737,000 (Short-term visitors who could play if the game was open to tourists)
For the residents scenario (about 440,000 people), they'd likely play regularly as locals. For the residents + tourists scenario (up to 7.2 million people), the potential base is massive, but tourists would only buy tickets during their visits.
It's worth noting that this scenario is already becoming a reality. A recent agreement between Powerball and the UK's National Lottery operator is set to officially bring the game to the UK this summer. An Australian expansion hasn't been announced, but this UK move certainly opens the door for future international growth.
Yes, the move is explicitly designed to make Powerball jackpots grow faster. Expanding the player base creates a financial feedback loop that accelerates jackpot growth. Here's how it works:
· The Self-Reinforcing Cycle: More players buy more tickets, which leads to higher sales, which builds a larger jackpot faster, which then attracts even more players—it's a "virtuous cycle".
· Official Goal: The strategy is driven by player demand. According to Powerball Product Group Chair Matt Strawn, surveys consistently show players want faster-growing jackpots. The addition of U.K. players (and potentially others) is the direct mechanism to achieve this without changing the core game for U.S. players.
· The UK Expansion's Boost: With the U.K. alone (where over 31 million people play the lottery annually) expected to increase the player pool significantly, jackpots are projected to build more quickly.
· Potential Impact of Further Expansion: An existing analysis suggests that expanding to both the U.K. and Australia could grow the Powerball player pool by roughly 39%. According to that model, such an expansion would lead to $1 billion jackpots appearing approximately every 1.3 years on average.
This expansion creates a dynamic where jackpots will climb faster and potentially reach historic heights more often. If you have more questions about Powerball or other topics, feel free to ask.
why? the lottery is becoming ridiculous now will they raise the price pro will
Approximately how much do American 🇺🇸 tourists currently spend in the UK 🇬🇧 vacationing annually
Based on official UK data, American tourists spent a record £7.3 billion (approximately $9.6 billion USD) in the United Kingdom in 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of all inbound tourist spending in the country.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of that spending:
· Average Spend Per Visit: The average American tourist spent £1,301 per trip in 2024.
· 2025 Forecast: Spending is forecast to rise by around 9% to a new record of £6.7 billion, which would be nearly one pound in every five of total inbound spending.
I hope this information is helpful. Would you like me to find the comparative spending figures for American tourists in Australia?
For the year ending December 2024, American tourists spent approximately A$4.35 billion (around US$2.9 billion) while on vacation in Australia.
Here's a closer look at that spending and how it compares to the UK:
· Annual Spend: US tourists spent A$4.35 billion in Australia in 2024 (YE December).
· Per-Trip Average: American holi<snip>akers spent an average of A$5,186 per trip in the June 2024 quarter.
· vs. UK Spend: This is notably lower than the US$9.6 billion (£7.3 billion) spent in the UK in 2024. The difference is largely due to the UK's closer proximity to the US and its role as a primary gateway to Europe, which naturally leads to a much higher volume of visits and overall expenditure.
I hope this breakdown is helpful for your comparison. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Tickets bought online. Lot of betting online. Sports betting. Trifecta stuff hundreds of bets. Bet big play big. Money is already being spent. Online. See a lot of empty stores late. Sports is entertainment. Lotto is entertainment. Yeah I agree with one guy, Powerball is big.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p519#en_US_2025_publink1000222351
Gambling Winnings
In general, nonresident aliens are subject to the 30% tax on the gross proceeds from gambling won in the United States if that income is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and is not exempted by treaty.
(can sometime be hit with state taxes)
apparently UK (also Germany) have tax treaties with USA that exempt gambling (aka lottery) winnings...
Thanks. Another reason we need to get rid of the income tax and go with tariffs.
Why do we have to pay 37% while somebody who doesn't live here have to pay only 30%?
Did you check to see if a U.S. player gets to pay 0% in the U.S. if they get a winning ticket in the U.K.? The U.K., last I heard, does not tax lottery winnings so if we have a treaty with them then why buy tickets in the U.S.?
This is totally unfair to U.S. players that can't make it to England.
The U.S. income tax needs to go because it is a klunked up, kludged up antique Swiss cheesed up 20th century piece of crap.
Really the U.S. should just do the tariffs and get rid of the loophole ridden and unfair income tax code.
They pay 30% because they don't live in the US and don't use any of those benefits from those paid taxes. Those of us living here are actually benefiting from that 30% and not have to go through a tax hike.
It's the 1% that's actually getting the biggest breaks though.
Not all change are good.. ohbummer.. one world order.. No thanks! Many US business and farmlands already owned by foreigners. Not a penny from me if I can help it.