Jackpot for National Lottery's Powerball game hits astonishing £503million - could YOU be in with a chance of winning?

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:01, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 19:01, 11 August 2026 Britain's newest lottery craze is already offering a prize big enough to put a winner in the same financial league as David Beckham. The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated £503million ahead of Thursday morning's draw – the biggest lottery jackpot ever available to UK players. And with the prize now nudging the reported £520million fortune of Sir David Beckham, one lucky ticket-holder could soon be asking themselves the ultimate question: could you Spend It Like Beckham? The extraordinary sum could fund a lifestyle fit for the Beckhams, from luxury yachts and homes around the world to a country estate – or even a residence in Dubai's Burj Khalifa. There would also be plenty left over for holidays, lavish gifts for friends and family and, should the winner wish, some serious philanthropic giving. The eye-watering jackpot comes just three weeks after Powerball launched in Britain, with Thursday's draw set to mark the 43rd consecutive rollover. That puts it tantalisingly close to the game's record of 47 consecutive rollovers, which was reached during a run that ended with a $1.817billion jackpot being won on Christmas Eve last year. The biggest Powerball prize ever won was an astonishing $2.04billion, scooped by a player in California in November 2022. The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated £503million ahead of Thursday morning's draw (stock) But a British winner on Thursday would make lottery history on this side of the Atlantic. The £503million prize would comfortably eclipse the current UK National Lottery record of £195million, won anonymously on EuroMillions in 2022. Andy Carter, Senior Winner's Advisor at Allwyn, operator of the National Lottery, says, 'Half a billion pounds. Just let that sink in. We are only three weeks into the UK's Powerball journey and already seeing jaw dropping jackpots of dizzying heights – this is the UK's biggest jackpot ever and will change lives. 'Think generational wealth, next-level impact and opening the doors to unimaginable possibilities for you and your extended circle. Get your tickets by 11.55pm on Wednesday 12 August to be in with a chance of winning this unbelievable prize.' And the huge jackpot isn't the only money already changing hands. Since Powerball launched in Britain on July 23, more than 742,000 prizes have been won by UK players, ranging from £8 to £70,195.50. More than 343,000 of those were £8 prizes, while a handful of particularly lucky players have already pocketed tens of thousands of pounds. The biggest prizes so far have come from matching four main numbers and the Powerball, with wins reaching £70,195.50. Powerball is played for £4 per line, with players choosing five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26 – or leaving it to a Lucky Dip. To win the jackpot, players must match all five main numbers and the Powerball. The UK version also has a special extra prize tier, giving players £8 for matching just two main numbers. Unlike the traditional National Lottery, the Powerball jackpot is paid to a UK winner over 30 years. Draws take place around 4am UK time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from the Powerball studio in Florida. The jackpot is shared between winning players in the US and UK, although the advertised UK figure is calculated as the estimated amount paid to most UK winners over 30 years after UK taxes. For now, Britain's would-be millionaires have until 11.55pm on Wednesday August 12 to get their tickets.