National Lottery Outage: App and Terminals to Go Offline Across the UK This Weekend
The National Lottery will temporarily suspend all draw ticket sales and prize claims this weekend as part of the biggest technology upgrade in its 31-year history. The move, described as a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul, will affect both online and in-store services across the UK.
Starting from 11pm this Saturday, after the Lotto and Thunderball draws, players will no longer be able to purchase draw tickets, claim winnings, or access their accounts either online or through physical terminals.
Services are expected to resume late Monday morning, with a total outage period of around 36 hours.
According to operator Allwyn, the National Lottery app and website will also be inaccessible during this time.
The company is urging players to buy tickets, check results, and make any claims before the deadline on Saturday night. Scratchcards, however, will still be available for purchase.
While systems are down, players can still view the Saturday draw results on the National Lottery’s official YouTube channel.
The outage is part of Allwyn’s plan to upgrade the lottery’s ageing tech infrastructure, which has been in place since 2009, well before the arrival of digital staples like Uber, iPads, and Instagram.
The company says this change is essential to creating a modern, future-ready Lottery experience for players and retailers alike.
Some in-store terminals might take a little longer to come back online after the update, especially if the system transfer faces any interruptions, Allwyn warned.
Once the upgrade is complete, Allwyn has promised a slate of improvements. New games, a smoother player experience, and more efficient systems are on the way.
More significantly, Allwyn has reaffirmed its commitment to doubling the Lottery’s returns to Good Causes, from £30 million to £60 million weekly, by the end of its 10-year licence.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the National Lottery that the UK deserves,” said Chief Executive Andria Vidler.
“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.”
The transition to Allwyn hasn’t been entirely seamless. Legal action by International Games Technology (IGT), the former supplier, caused delays in switching providers.
Although IGT eventually dropped its challenge, the disruption impacted Allwyn’s plans to roll out new draw-based games in 2024.
The delay has temporarily slowed down expected increases in funding for Good Causes, but Allwyn maintains it remains on track to meet its long-term goals.
In the meantime, players are reminded to plan ahead. The Lotto draw is scheduled for 8pm, followed by the Thunderball at 8:15pm this Saturday. After that, it’s lights out until the new and improved National Lottery system comes back online.
