The UK government is consulting on whether to ban third-party betting on Powerball, according to the report. The government says such betting conflicts with the purpose of Section 95 of the Gambling Act 2005; the consultation concerns Allwyn’s US-based lottery draw game.
A possible ban could affect operators offering third-party bets on Powerball in the UK.
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Allwyn UK told SBC News it was working with the UKGC on responsible gambling and player monitoring. It was reported that a British coroner had asked the regulator to include National Lottery draw games in Gamstop.
Sarah Gardner, the Gambling Commission’s interim chief executive, praised Allwyn’s player-protection measures at a company conference in the UK. She said the National Lottery raised £1.7bn for good causes in the past year and described Allwyn’s new online safeguards as positive, while noting early implementation difficulties.
UKGC acting CEO Sarah Gardner said Allwyn must meet higher standards given the National Lottery’s public position.
UK Gambling Commission acting chief executive Sarah Gardner called on Allwyn UK to increase National Lottery returns for good causes while maintaining player protections, according to a report of her conference remarks. Allwyn generated £1.8bn for good causes in 2025/26, while sales fell 12.5% year on year in the first quarter of 2026/27. Gardner said the technology upgrade created opportunities to improve safeguards, despite transition problems.
The UK government has proposed extending restrictions on bookmakers to cover bets on Powerball UK, reportedly opening a consultation that runs until 4 November 2026. The proposal would amend the Gambling Act’s Section 95 framework, which currently permits bets on foreign lottery results but excludes National Lottery products, to avoid customer confusion.