The UK Gambling Commission has issued Allwyn Entertainment Ltd a new Section 6 licence allowing it to introduce the US draw-based game Powerball in Britain.
The licence took effect on 21 July 2026 and was granted under section 6 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The regulator records the decision in its current National Lottery licence information and its 2026 licence-decisions register.
What has been confirmed
| Licensee | Allwyn Entertainment Ltd |
|---|---|
| Regulator | UK Gambling Commission |
| Effective date | 21 Jul, 2026 |
| Legal basis | Section 6, National Lottery etc. Act 1993 |
| Licensed purpose | Introduce the US draw-based game Powerball to the UK |
The official record confirms the licence and its purpose. It does not, in the material reviewed for this report, set out a retail launch date, ticket price, draw schedule, prize structure or detailed player journey. Those points should not be inferred until Allwyn or the Commission publishes them.
How this fits the National Lottery framework
Allwyn began operating the Fourth National Lottery Licence in February 2024. A Section 6 licence is a separate legal permission used for National Lottery games, and the July decision specifically concerns the introduction of Powerball.
The name is associated with a US draw game, but the British offer may be subject to its own approved rules and operating arrangements. A licence to introduce the product is therefore not the same as confirmation that every US feature will be copied unchanged.
Why the decision matters
The addition would connect the British National Lottery portfolio with a widely recognised international draw-game format. It may broaden consumer interest, but the material details will determine how different the product is from existing draws and how clearly its odds and prize rules are communicated.
For the regulator, the decision also creates an oversight task: approved game rules, sales presentation and consumer information will need to fit the obligations governing the National Lottery and the protection of participants.
Facts and analysis
Fact: a new licence took effect on 21 July 2026. Fact: it was issued to Allwyn Entertainment Ltd for the stated purpose of introducing Powerball to the UK.
CasinOK analysis: the most important unanswered questions are commercial and operational rather than legal: when the game launches, how tickets and draws work, what the approved odds are and which safer-play information appears at the point of purchase.
Until official launch material is available, readers should avoid treating reports about a British Powerball product as a complete specification. Draw games remain games of chance, and a prominent top prize does not describe an individual ticket’s likelihood of winning.
Consumer context
Check the official rules before purchasing any ticket, set a fixed entertainment budget and never treat a lottery as a source of income. CasinOK’s responsible gaming information explains practical spending and time safeguards.
Primary sources
- UK Gambling Commission: 2026 licence decisions
- UK Gambling Commission: current National Lottery licence
This report will be updated when the regulator or Allwyn publishes a confirmed launch date or material product rules.
