National Lottery's Powerball jackpot surges to £500million setting new record
The previous UK record, £195million, claimed anonymously through EuroMillions in 2022, would be dwarfed nearly three times over if won
The previous UK record, £195million, claimed anonymously through EuroMillions in 2022, would be dwarfed nearly three times over if won
National Lottery's Powerball jackpot has surged to £500million which is the largest lottery prize ever on offer in Britain.
With just hours remaining before tonight's 11.55pm ticket deadline, the National Lottery's Powerball jackpot stands at an estimated £503million.
The staggering sum, available in Thursday morning's draw, would place a winner within touching distance of Sir David Beckham's reported £520million wealth.
A successful ticket-holder could easily afford a lifestyle to match the Beckhams.
The prize would also leave ample room for generous gifts to loved ones and significant charitable donations.
Powerball only arrived in Britain on July 23, meaning the game has been available for barely three weeks.
Thursday's draw will represent the 43rd consecutive occasion on which the top prize has rolled over without a winner.
That streak is approaching the game's all-time record of 47 successive rollovers, a run that concluded when a $1.817billion jackpot was claimed on Christmas Eve 2025.
The largest Powerball prize in history remains the $2.04billion won by a single player in California in November 2022.
Until now, the biggest UK lottery win stood at £195million, taken home by an anonymous EuroMillions participant four years ago, a sum the current Powerball jackpot would comfortably surpass by more than £300million.
Andy Carter, Senior Winner's Advisor at Allwyn, the National Lottery operator, said: "Half a billion pounds. Just let that sink in.
"We are only three weeks into the UK's Powerball journey and already seeing jaw dropping jackpots of dizzying heights — this is the UK's biggest jackpot ever and will change lives."
He urged players not to delay, adding: "Think generational wealth, next-level impact and opening the doors to unimaginable possibilities for you and your extended circle.
"Get your tickets by 11.55pm on Wednesday 12 August to be in with a chance of winning this unbelievable prize."
Mr Carter's message underscores the sheer scale of what is at stake: a single win would instantly create one of the wealthiest individuals in the country.
Each Powerball line costs £4, with participants selecting five main numbers from 1 to 69 alongside a single Powerball number from 1 to 26 or opting for a Lucky Dip.
British players also benefit from an additional prize tier unique to the UK version, awarding £8 simply for matching two main numbers.
Draws are conducted at the Powerball studio in Florida at approximately 4am UK time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Unlike conventional National Lottery prizes, the jackpot is distributed to UK winners over a 30-year period, with the advertised figure reflecting estimated post-tax payments.
Since the game's British launch, over 742,000 prizes have been awarded to UK players, with individual wins ranging from £8 up to £70,195.50.