The UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has proposed banning licensed bookmakers from accepting bets on US Powerball draws. The move would align Powerball with other National Lottery products already covered by the restriction.
A six-week consultation on the new licence condition runs until 4 November 2026. Powerball joined the National Lottery portfolio on 21 July 2026 when operator Allwyn UK launched the game outside the US for the first time. Several bookmakers had been offering bets on the American draws before that.
Under the Gambling Act 2005, bookmakers cannot take bets on National Lottery games including Lotto, EuroMillions and Thunderball. Powerball was not covered because the underlying US draw sits outside the British system. The proposed condition closes that gap. Bets on other foreign lotteries, such as the Irish draw, would remain legal.
The government argues that running official participation alongside bookmaker bets will confuse customers and cut charitable contributions. The National Lottery sends around £1.8 billion ($2.38 billion) a year to arts, sport and community projects — roughly 23% of sales. Bookmakers make no such payments.
Allwyn expects Powerball to deliver an additional £1 billion ($1.32 billion) to good causes over five years. By 2034 the operator plans to reach £60 million ($79 million) a week in contributions. Since its 1994 launch, the National Lottery has raised more than £53 billion ($70 billion).
The consultation asks how many punters will move from bookmakers to the official lottery, what share of bookmaker GGR comes from Powerball bets, and what the ban will cost operators.
