National Lottery announces two new games with £1 BILLION mega jackpot

Fintan Starkey
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:23:11 +0000

The National Lottery is set to undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of two fresh games for players.

Beginning on June 7, the flagship Lotto draw will adopt a new two-round format, effectively giving participants double the opportunity to win without any increase to the standard £2 ticket price.

Players will continue selecting the same number of balls as before, but their chances of claiming any prize will improve dramatically from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9.

The inaugural two-round draw is scheduled for Wednesday June 10, with regular draws continuing at approximately 8pm every Wednesday and Saturday.

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Perhaps the most dramatic addition is a UK version of Powerball, marking the first occasion the iconic American lottery game has been made available beyond US borders.

British participants will compete directly alongside American players for a chance to secure a share of mega-jackpots exceeding £1billion.

This represents the country's first game offering prize pots of such magnitude.

Winners from the UK who claim the top prize will receive their winnings distributed over a 30-year period, according to lottery operator Allwyn.

The transatlantic game creates an unprecedented opportunity for British players to access the enormous jackpots traditionally reserved for American audiences.

The revamped Lotto format is projected to generate more than double the current number of millionaires annually, rising from approximately 140 to around 345.

Meanwhile, the UK Powerball is anticipated to contribute roughly £1billion to Good Causes during its initial five years, with over 30 per cent of each ticket price directed towards charitable initiatives.

These launches follow a substantial £450million technology overhaul that transferred 18 million player accounts and more than three billion historical transactions to modernised systems.

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Allwyn CEO Andria Vidler said: "We are delivering on our promise to bring more games, more entertainment and more innovation to The National Lottery."

The National Lottery said on social media: "Players told us they value having two opportunities at the £1M+ prizes in every draw.

"To make that possible, some lower tier prizes are smaller. However, players can now win more often and can win more than once in a single night.

"Over a year, regular players are expected to see a net increase in prize money for the same ticket price."

Users on social media expressed excitement at the new announcement.

One said: "I like the idea of the two opportunities to win £1m+ probably the best idea since the National Lottery began."

Another added: "Excited to see this in action!"

A third added: "Can't wait to give this a try!"