National Lottery participants have the opportunity to win a staggering £377 million this weekend, marking the largest jackpot ever presented in a UK draw. The massive prize will be available through the Powerball game, with the catch being that the winnings will be distributed over 30 years rather than in a lump sum. Recently, the UK became the first country outside the US and its territories to join the Powerball.
Scheduled in Miami, Florida at 11pm local time this Saturday (4am Sunday BST), the £377 million draw requires players to select five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball number from 1 to 26. Tickets are priced at £4 each, and to claim the top prize, all numbers must match.
Tickets for the draw can be acquired in stores or online, similar to other National Lottery games like EuroMillions and Lotto. Additionally, players have the option of a lucky dip if they prefer not to choose their own numbers. UK players need to purchase their tickets before 11:55pm on Saturday to participate in this weekend’s draw.
Unlike Powerball winners in the US who can choose to receive a reduced lump sum, UK winners can only receive their winnings in annuity. Allwyn, the National Lottery operator, stated that this ensures winners receive the highest possible jackpot. In case of multiple winners with the same numbers, the jackpot is split equally, potentially leading to shared winnings.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, expressed excitement about the £377 million Powerball jackpot, highlighting the life-changing opportunities it presents. The deadline for purchasing tickets is 11:55pm on Saturday night. Carter emphasized that participating in any National Lottery game contributes to raising approximately £33 million weekly for Good Cause projects benefiting communities across the UK.
The largest lottery win in Britain to date occurred in July 2022 when an anonymous individual won £195 million on EuroMillions. The second-highest prize went to Joe and Jess Thwaite, a couple from Gloucester, who won £184.3 million in May of the same year with a Lucky Dip ticket.
While EuroMillions jackpots are capped at €250 million (£215 million), Powerball prizes have no upper limit. The largest US Powerball win was a $2.04 billion (£1.5 billion) jackpot claimed by Edwin Castro in California in November 2022. Despite facing legal challenges, Castro has embarked on philanthropic efforts to help families affected by wildfires in California.
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