A $600 million Powerball jackpot is up for grabs tonight, July 25, as lottery players try their luck at one of the year’s biggest prizes. The drawing also marks Powerball’s expansion into the United Kingdom, bringing more players into the game and potentially setting the stage for even larger jackpots in the future.

How to Play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers, including convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. Some states also allow online purchases.

To play, pick five white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Players can also add Power Play for an extra $1, which can multiply non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times.

For U.S. players, nothing is changing. Drawings are still held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, and the odds of winning the jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million. What’s changing is the size of the player pool, which officials say could help jackpots grow more quickly when no one wins.

Key Differences for UK Players

While British players will compete for the same jackpot, there are a few key differences. Powerball tickets cost 4 British pounds in the U.K. (about $5.33 USD), compared with $2 in the United States. U.K. ticket sales contribute to the shared jackpot, but lower-tier prizes are paid through a separate prize structure.

Unlike U.S. jackpot winners, who can choose between a lump-sum cash payout or a 30-year annuity, U.K. winners will receive their prize through annual payments over 30 years administered by the U.K. National Lottery.

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.