Powerball ticket sales in the UK will begin on Tuesday, giving players across the Atlantic the chance to win the same huge prize that American players are already playing for, with the same minuscule odds.

The expansion, first announced in April through an agreement between the US Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK, will mark the first time a lottery outside the US has contributed to the Powerball jackpot. The expansion will allow UK players to play for much larger prizes than those now available in lotteries in the country and Europe.

Wednesday night’s draw will be the first Powerball draw open to players in the UK.

The biggest Powerball payout was just over $2bn (around £1.5bn) from a ticket purchased in 2022 in California. EuroMillions, a lottery offered in nine European countries and also operated in the United Kingdom by Allwyn, awarded the maximum 250 million euros (about $285 million) to players in France, Ireland and Austria over the course of 2025.

The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. Those odds will be the same for players in the United States and the United Kingdom, lottery officials say.

U.S. Lottery officials say the expanded player base will allow Powerball jackpots to grow more quickly, likely boosting sales as more people are attracted to bigger prizes.

Powerball tickets cost $2.

Tickets purchased in the UK will only go towards the Powerball jackpot, not lower tier prizes. UK players will have a different prize structure at the lower level.

Estimated jackpot amounts in each country will differ due to currency conversion rates and because prize amounts are announced before tax in the USA, unlike the UK.

Powerball jackpots in the UK will also be paid out over 30 years, while in the US jackpot winners can choose to have their winnings spread over years via an annuity or in cash; almost all winners opt for cash.

Powerball is played in 45 US states, plus Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

In the game, players choose five white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Drawings will continue to be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.