The British government is pushing to ban third-party betting firms from accepting wagers on the newly launched Powerball lottery product.
The move would bring Powerball into line with all other National Lottery products, which are already excluded from third-party betting markets.
Vicky Foxcroft, Undersecretary of State at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has been central to the government’s position on the matter.
Foxcroft confirmed that Section 95 “seeks to preserve the distinction between betting and the National Lottery,” underlining the legislative foundation for the proposed ban.
The government’s stated concern is preventing customer confusion and protecting the revenue streams that Powerball is expected to generate for good causes.
Officials have made clear they want to stop third-party bets on Powerball game draws specifically to prevent any dilution of funds intended for charitable and community purposes.
“This will aim to remove risks of customer confusion for players, and ensure National Lottery good causes are maximised,” Foxcroft said in her statement on the matter.
The argument for the ban is difficult to dispute given that every other National Lottery product already sits outside the scope of third-party betting operators.
Powerball being treated differently from the rest of the National Lottery portfolio would have created an inconsistency that the government appears unwilling to accept.
The move could also signal that Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government is keeping a close watch on the broader gambling landscape and is prepared to intervene when it sees fit.
Burnham’s administration has shown it is willing to act decisively on gambling regulation, and this latest development adds further weight to that impression.
For betting operators who had begun offering markets on Powerball draws, the proposed ban represents a meaningful loss of potential revenue from what is a high-profile lottery product.
The Powerball lottery itself is a newly launched addition to the National Lottery family, and its arrival has clearly prompted swift legislative attention from regulators and government alike.
With the consultation and legislative process moving forward, it now appears highly likely that a formal prohibition on Powerball betting will be confirmed in the near future.
