National Lottery participants have the opportunity to win a staggering £377 million prize this weekend, marking the largest jackpot ever offered in a UK draw. The massive sum will be available through the Powerball, although the catch is that the prize will be distributed over 30 years instead of as a single payment. Recently, the UK became the first country outside the US and its territories to join the Powerball game.
The £377 million draw is scheduled to take place in Miami, Florida, at 11 pm local time on Saturday (4 am Sunday BST). To participate, players must select five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball number from 1 to 26, with tickets priced at £4 each. Winning the top prize requires matching all the selected numbers.
Tickets can be bought in stores or online, similar to other National Lottery games like EuroMillions and Lotto. Additionally, players have the option of choosing a lucky dip if they prefer not to select numbers themselves. UK players must purchase their tickets before 11.55 pm on Saturday to be part of this weekend’s draw. Unlike in the US where winners can choose to receive an immediate payout with a 50% deduction, in the UK, the prize is only available as an annuity.
National Lottery operator Allwyn mentioned that this payment structure ensures winners receive the maximum possible jackpot. If multiple individuals have the same winning numbers, the jackpot will be shared equally, leading to the potential of funds being split across different locations.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, expressed excitement about the £377 million Powerball jackpot, highlighting the transformative impact such a substantial prize can have on individuals’ lives. Players have until 11.55 pm on Saturday to purchase their tickets and participate in the draw, emphasizing that playing the National Lottery supports various Good Cause projects benefiting communities across the UK.
The largest lottery win in Britain to date occurred in July 2022 when an anonymous ticket holder won £195 million in the EuroMillions. Following closely, Joe and Jess Thwaite, a couple from Gloucester, secured a substantial £184.3 million in May of the same year using a Lucky Dip ticket.
EuroMillions jackpots are capped at €250 million (£215 million), while Powerball prizes have no upper limits. The most significant US Powerball win of $2.04 billion (£1.5 billion) was claimed by player Edwin Castro in California in November 2022. Despite legal challenges regarding the winning ticket, Mr. Castro persevered and has since invested in rebuilding areas affected by wildfires.