Allwyn UK states that forthcoming changes to the National Lottery will double the number of UK millionaires from around 140 a year to approximately 345 individuals annually.
The declaration leads to a summer of changes for the National Lottery, in which Allwyn has confirmed the launch of a revamped Lotto format alongside the introduction of a UK-specific version of Powerball.
From 7 June, Lotto will adopt a new two-round draw structure, allowing players two chances to win from a single £2 ticket.
The change will significantly improve overall odds for customers — from one-in-9.3 to one-in-4.9 — while maintaining the existing prize entry mechanics. Players will be able to win in one or both rounds, with jackpots starting at £2m and rolling over up to five times before a must-be-won draw.
Allwyn believes the enhanced structure will reinforce Lotto’s long-standing positioning as the UK’s “millionaire maker”, with two routes to £1m prizes remaining in place: matching six numbers for the jackpot, or five numbers plus the Bonus Ball for a fixed £1m payout.
Complementing the Lotto overhaul is the planned rollout of a UK-tailored Powerball product later this summer, marking the first time the global jackpot game will be available outside the US.
Priced at £4 per line, UK players will participate in the shared jackpot pool, which starts at around £12m and remains uncapped, with top prizes paid out over 30 years.
The introduction of Powerball is expected to generate an additional £1bn for UK Good Causes over its first five years, as Allwyn looks to expand the National Lottery’s appeal through larger jackpots and a broader portfolio of games.
Supporting the rollout, Allwyn highlighted that the changes follow the successful 2024 transition of the National Lottery onto a new operating system developed in partnership with Scientific Games. The upgraded platform has enabled enhanced retail and digital capabilities, forming the backbone for the introduction of new game formats.
As part of its retail transformation, Allwyn also began the large-scale deployment of over 30,000 new Wave lottery terminals in August 2025, replacing legacy Altura machines across the UK estate.
Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn UK, said: “We are delivering on our promise to bring more games, more entertainment and more innovation to the National Lottery. With extensive upgrades to our digital and retail channels now complete, we have a fantastic summer lined up as we bring these exciting new games to our players.
“Lotto has always been the best game to play if you want to become a millionaire.
“Our new Lotto gives players two chances of winning £1m-plus for the same £2 they spend today, creating hundreds more millionaires every year. And with its transformative jackpots, we’re certain that our UK-specific version of Powerball will capture the public’s imagination.”
The operator added that the dual launch reflects its wider strategy to modernise the Lottery’s offering, increase player engagement and ultimately grow returns to Good Causes, with a long-term ambition to double weekly contributions to £60m by 2034.
