How Many Postcodes in Postcode Lottery & Can You Enter Any Area?
Curious how many postcodes are involved in the Postcode Lottery, or whether you can enter using a postcode from another area? You’re not alone. These points often cause confusion, especially when signing up for the first time.
This guide explains how postcodes are included, how entries are checked, and what happens if you move. By the end, you’ll know exactly where you stand and what to expect.
Set a clear budget before you play, and seek help if you ever feel your gambling is becoming hard to manage.
What Is The Postcode Lottery And How Does It Work?
The Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery where your entry is tied to your home postcode rather than numbers you pick yourself. Once your subscription is active, your postcode is entered into scheduled draws and you are automatically in the running without buying separate tickets.
Draws select postcodes at random from those that are currently entered. If a postcode is chosen, everyone with that postcode who has paid for the relevant draw wins a prize. Some draws focus on larger individual awards, others are designed to spread prizes across more players, and some combine cash with items like vouchers or holidays. Exact amounts and formats are confirmed by the lottery before each draw.
Because entries are postcode-based, prizes are shared among eligible players living in the winning area. That structure shapes much of how the scheme works from sign-up through to payouts.
How Many Postcodes Are In The Postcode Lottery?
There are roughly 1.8 million postcodes across the UK, but only those with at least one active player are included in the draws. If nobody in a postcode has subscribed, that postcode simply isn’t in the mix.
Entries use standard Royal Mail formats, such as LE2 7BU or SW1A 1AA. Each postcode refers to a small cluster of nearby properties rather than an entire street or town. The total number of postcodes in play changes over time as people join or cancel.
Eligibility for a specific postcode is confirmed during registration. If your address is valid and your subscription is active, your postcode becomes part of the pool.
Wondering whether you can pick a postcode from a different area instead? That’s where the rules are very clear.
Can You Enter For A Postcode You Do Not Live In?
No. You must register with the full address where you actually live, and your entry is tied to that postcode. Choosing a different area is not permitted, and providing false details can lead to your entry being cancelled and any claim being refused.
These rules help keep the scheme fair and compliant with gambling regulations. They also ensure that prizes go to players who genuinely live in the winning postcode, not to people choosing it from elsewhere.
So how is that enforced in practice?
How Entry Is Verified And Postcode Eligibility
When you sign up, your name, date of birth and address are checked against reliable sources to confirm identity and residency. Your postcode must match your usual home address. Business locations or second homes that you do not ordinarily live in are not valid entries.
If you move, your eligibility follows you once you update your details, and your new postcode is used for future draws. If you cannot provide a permanent UK residential address, you are not able to take part. These checks help the operator meet legal requirements and keep the draw set consistent.
With eligibility set, the next piece to understand is how winners are selected and how prizes are shared.
How Are Winners Chosen And Prizes Allocated?
Postcodes are selected at random from all those entered for a given draw period. Everyone with an active, paid entry in the winning postcode receives the prize that applies to that draw. There is no need to pick numbers or buy extra tickets once you are subscribed.
Prize structures vary. Some draws allocate a single larger award to the winning postcode, others distribute several smaller prizes among more participants, and some mix cash with non-cash rewards. Where a prize is shared, each eligible player in the winning postcode receives the same defined amount for that draw.
Winners are contacted using the details provided at registration. Payment follows the process set out by the lottery, and the confirmed structure for each draw is published in advance.
But what if your details change between signing up and the draw taking place?
What Happens If You Move House Or Your Postcode Changes?
If you move, update your address with the lottery so future draws use your new postcode. Entries already paid for under your old address remain valid up to the point your change takes effect, and any win from those draws is still honoured.
Occasionally, Royal Mail updates postcode boundaries or revises codes. If that happens to yours, inform the lottery so your account can be matched correctly. Keeping your details current ensures that prize notifications reach you and that any payout is processed without delay.
If your address is settled and you are ready to take part, it helps to know how your local pool works day to day.
How To Join A Postcode Pool And Manage Your Entry
Your postcode pool forms automatically. Anyone in your postcode with an active subscription is included alongside you, and you share in any win for that postcode. There is no need to organise a group or coordinate with neighbours.
Signing up involves providing your personal details and your residential address, then setting up the subscription so your entry stays active. You can manage your account online or by contacting customer support to update addresses, change payment method, or pause or cancel. It is your responsibility to keep information accurate so any prize can be paid correctly.
What If Your Postcode Isn’t Part Of The Scheme?
If your postcode does not appear during registration, it usually means it is not yet active in the lottery’s system. This can happen with new builds, converted properties or some rural areas. You cannot enter using a neighbour’s or friend’s postcode in its place, because entries must match your genuine home address.
If you believe your postcode should be eligible, get in touch with customer support. Sometimes records need updating or a clerical fix is required. Once your address is recognised and your subscription is active, your postcode joins the pool and is eligible for future draws.
Understanding these rules around eligibility, verification and prize allocation makes it easier to decide whether the Postcode Lottery suits you and how to take part on the right terms.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.