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Wednesday night\u2019s Powerball lottery drawing will be the first since ticket sales expanded to the United Kingdom, and the more people eligible to take part means jackpots could grow more quickly.<\/p>\n
United Kingdom players can now purchase Powerball tickets. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon \/ AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Powerball opened ticket sales<\/a> to United Kingdom residents earlier this week, the first time non-U.S. lottery players can try to win the massive jackpot.<\/p>\n Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery, said earlier this month the more players buying tickets means \u201cfaster-growing jackpots,\u201d as ticket sales contribute toward the prize fund.<\/p>\n Each Powerball ticket sold in the United Kingdom will contribute to the grand prize the same amount that a ticket sold in the United States would, Powerball says.<\/p>\n Odds of winning money will not change, Powerball says, because the numbers players must choose from when purchasing a ticket\u2014five numbers between one and 69, and one red Powerball number between one and 26\u2014will remain the same.<\/p>\n surprising fact<\/p>\n Lucky players in the United Kingdom who win won\u2019t have the option to select a lump-sum payment, unlike American players. In the United States, winners can select between a single lump payment and annual payments over a period of 30 years, with annual payments increasing by 5%. United Kingdom-based payers will only have the option to receive payments annually for 30 years, with payments administered by the U.K. National Lottery. The annual payment plan is the less popular<\/a> option, even though it pays out more money over time\u2014most Powerball winners have opted for the cash payment. <\/p>\n big number<\/p>\n