If you're hoping to purchase a lottery ticket or check your numbers today, you may need to wait a few more hours. The National Lottery remains completely inaccessible as its "‘unprecedented" technology overhaul enters its final stretch.
The shutdown, which began at 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws, has left millions unable to access their accounts, purchase tickets, or claim prizes across all platforms.
For those unfamiliar, the National Lottery has been operating in the UK since 1994, generating billions for charitable causes through various draw games and scratchcards sold at retailers nationwide. Lotto draws take place twice a week— on Wednesdays and Saturdays — with players selecting six main numbers plus a bonus ball from a pool of 1 to 59.
Thunderball draws are held four times a week — Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. In this game, players choose five numbers (1–39) and one Thunderball (1–14). Matching all six wins the fixed top prize of £500,000, with no rollovers.
This unprecedented 36-hour blackout affects the National Lottery website, mobile application, and all 43,500 retail terminals throughout the UK. Services are expected to resume later this morning, but there haven't been any signs of the website coming back online yet.
DOWNDETECTOR
|Hundreds of people across the UK have taken to social media to complain about the down-time on the National Lottery website and mobile app, which is expected to continue until later this morning (August 4)
The Gambling Commission, a government regulator, has assembled a specialist team to monitor this weekend's critical upgrade, with representatives working throughout the 36-hours to scrutinise the progress. A spokesperson said: "We will have colleagues working over the full period to closely examine updates from Allwyn as this important change is implemented."
The technology transformation represents the lottery's most extensive systems overhaul in its three-decade existence. If you're wondering about the scale, consider that more than 30 new systems are being installed simultaneously across the network.
Your local shop's lottery terminal, along with thousands of others, hasn't seen significant updates since 2009, predating the launch of the iPad, Uber, and Instagram. The purpose of the update involves transferring millions of transactions and tens of thousands of retailer records to entirely new platforms.
GETTY IMAGES
|The National Lottery works with several communities across the UK as part of its charitable impact mission
Should you visit a retailer when services resume, you might notice some terminals experiencing delays returning online if upgrade processes encounter interruptions. The National Lottery operator, Allywn, has cautioned that a small number of locations could face extended downtime.
Allwyn's chief executive, Andria Vidler, has described the upgrade as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves". This is also part of Vidler's pledge to transform the lottery's charitable impact.
The National Lottery, through its various funding programs like The National Lottery Community Fund, has raised billions for communities across the UK. These projects range from supporting small grassroots groups to large charities, and they tackle a wide range of issues, including poverty, health, and environmental sustainability.
"We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK," Vidler stated.
The company has committed to doubling weekly contributions to good causes from £30 million to £60 million by the conclusion of its decade-long licence. This target forms part of Allwyn's broader vision for modernising the lottery's operations.
As the National Lottery works to come back online today, the National Lottery hotline (0333 234 44 33) will have extra staff on call to assist with any major bugs.