The UK government has opened a consultation on a proposal to stop licensed betting operators from offering bets on the outcome of Powerball draws, the game Allwyn UK added to the National Lottery on 21 July 2026. The consultation was published on GOV.UK by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and it is open until 4 November 2026. For UK Powerball players, nothing has changed yet: this is a proposal at consultation stage, and whether it goes ahead is for the government to decide.
Why the government wants bets on UK Powerball draws closed off
The National Lottery has a special position in British law. According to the department's consultation document, it is not regulated as gambling under the Gambling Act, and the Act separately prohibits betting on the National Lottery itself.
That protection does not reach Powerball. The document explains why: the underlying US Powerball draw is not part of the UK National Lottery, so the existing prohibition does not extend to it, even though customers have been able to play the official Powerball game through the National Lottery since 21 July 2026.
The government sets out three concerns with leaving that gap open:
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Customer confusion. The department says it is concerned that customers could mix up the official National Lottery game and a betting product, and end up unintentionally betting on Powerball rather than playing it.
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Good causes. National Lottery sales fund good causes, while betting operators have no requirement to allocate their proceeds to charitable causes. The document says there is a risk that Powerball sales, and with them National Lottery good-cause returns, may not be realised if betting on Powerball continues to be permitted.
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Consistency. The proposal is framed as bringing Powerball into line with the protection the other National Lottery games already have.
How the proposed prohibition would work
The government's preferred route is a new condition attached to betting licences issued under the Gambling Act. It would apply to holders of general betting, pool betting and betting intermediary licences, and would bar them from offering bets on the outcome of Powerball draws to consumers in Great Britain.
The consultation document also lists other options the government considered and judged less effective against its aims: voluntary action, with the Gambling Commission advising operators to make clear their products are bets on the outcome of Powerball rather than play through the National Lottery; requiring betting operators to donate to good causes; and a ban on all bets on lotteries. The department says it welcomes views on alternative options.
The 2018 EuroMillions precedent
The consultation cites an earlier case. In 2018, legislation came into force to prohibit betting on the outcome of non-UK EuroMillions draws. According to the document, voluntary action was tried ahead of that prohibition and was found to be limited in success.
What UK Powerball players can do before 4 November 2026
The line the consultation draws is between two different things: the official UK Powerball game, bought through the National Lottery, and a bet on the outcome of a Powerball draw placed with a betting operator. The proposal is aimed at the second.
The department is inviting responses from across the betting and lottery sectors, from operators that may be affected, from players, and from other interested parties. Responses are made through the online survey linked from the GOV.UK consultation page, and the deadline is 4 November 2026.
Until the government announces a decision, the proposal has no effect. Our UK Powerball game hub covers the official game, and the GOV.UK consultation page is where the department sets out the full proposal.
Play for fun, within a budget you set in advance. If gambling stops feeling fun, you can talk to someone for free, in confidence, at any hour — the National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) is on 0808 8020 133.
Always confirm winning numbers, prize amounts, and deadlines with the official operator before acting on a ticket — the operator's published results are the only ones that count.
Sources
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Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 23 September 2026, Consultation on prohibiting third party betting on Powerball — GOV.UK consultation overview
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Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 23 September 2026, Consultation on prohibiting third party betting on Powerball (full consultation document) — GOV.UK consultation document
