New Lotto millionaires than original format
Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, has released new figures stating that 56 New Lotto millionaires have been created since the game launched on 10 June 2026.
By comparison, 35 millionaires were created during the same period last year. Allwyn attributes the increase to the revised Lotto format, introduced in June as part of its plans to create more millionaire winners
Of the 56 millionaires created, 32 won on round 2 of the new Lotto format.
The revised Lotto format was introduced after Allwyn took over operation of The National Lottery under the Fourth Licence. One of the main objectives was to create more millionaire winners while improving the overall odds of winning a prize.
How the new Lotto works
The new Lotto format, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, gives players two chances to win with a £2 ticket.
Players continue to choose six numbers from 59. Every ticket is entered into two separate draws, each with its own winning numbers and Bonus Ball. As a result, every entry now has two opportunities to win.
According to Allwyn, the changes have improved the overall odds of winning a prize. The odds have increased from 1 in 9.3 to 1 in 4.9.
Family syndicate almost missed £1 million prize
One of the latest New Lotto millionaires was a family syndicate from Somerset. Mark Jefferson, 54, his wife Naomi, 51, and their four adult children shared a £1 million prize. The family ignored several emails asking them to check their National Lottery account. It was only after receiving a telephone call from Allwyn that they realised they had become millionaires
Powerball makes its debut
The National Lottery introduced Powerball in the UK on 21 July 2026. Until then, Powerball has only been available in the United States.
Powerball has so far awarded 997,038 prizes in the UK. Total prize payouts have exceeded £13.8 million.
Powerball made its UK debut during a 43-draw rollover, which resulted in a $1.04 billion win in Illinois. The jackpot has now reset and stands at an estimated £49 million for the next draw on 27 August 2026.
According to Allwyn, Powerball has attracted new players to The National Lottery. Around 40,000 people bought a National Lottery ticket for the first time after Powerball’s launch. More than 2.6 million players have taken part so far, with over half returning for multiple draws.
Andy Carter reflects on a successful summer
Commenting on the figures, Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said:
“With New Lotto delivering more winners than ever before and Powerball giving UK players access to one of the world’s biggest rolling jackpot games, this summer has marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for The National Lottery, offering players more opportunities to win and more chances to dream big in the months ahead.
“And that’s not to mention the top prize winners made on our other National Lottery draw games. Since the beginning of June, we have also made five winners of £10k a month for 30 years on Set for Life and six winners of £500k on Thunderball.”
Supporting Good Causes across the UK
Beyond prizes, National Lottery games continue to support projects throughout the UK.
An estimated £33 million is generated for National Lottery-funded projects every week. Since its launch in 1994, more than £53 billion has been raised for Good Causes. The funding supports projects across sport, the arts, heritage, and local communities in every postcode area of the UK.
The latest figures suggest the summer has been an important period for The National Lottery. New Lotto has increased the number of millionaire winners, while Powerball has introduced the UK to one of the world’s biggest lottery games. Together, they represent two of the most significant product launches under Allwyn’s stewardship of the Fourth National Lottery Licence.