Consultation on prohibiting third party betting on Powerball

The UK Government has opened a consultation on proposals to prohibit licensed betting operators from offering bets on the outcome of the US Powerball lottery, in a move designed to align the product with existing protections applied to National Lottery games.

The consultation, announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 23 September 2026, seeks views on preventing third-party operators licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 from offering betting markets based on Powerball draws.

According to DCMS, the proposed change would bring Powerball into line with wider National Lottery products, where third-party betting on game outcomes is already prohibited.

The Government is inviting responses from stakeholders across the betting and lottery sectors, including operators that may be affected by the proposal, as well as players and other interested parties.

The consultation will remain open until 11:59pm on 4 November 2026, with responses helping to inform the Government’s consideration of whether legislative or regulatory changes are needed.

Powerball is a lottery game operated in the United States and has attracted international interest through betting operators that allow customers to wager on draw outcomes without purchasing an actual lottery ticket. The proposed prohibition would prevent licensed third-party operators in Great Britain from offering such bets.

The consultation forms part of the Government’s ongoing oversight of gambling regulation and the lottery sector, and interested parties can submit their views through the official consultation process.