National Lottery vs Postcode Lottery: What Are the Differences?
Lotteries have long been a popular pastime in the UK, with millions of people taking part every week. Among the most well-known are the National Lottery and the Postcode Lottery. While both raise substantial funds for good causes, they differ in how they operate and the experience they offer players.
This Ivy Casino blog post explores the key differences between the two, including how tickets are bought, how prizes are awarded, and how proceeds are distributed. It also considers their odds, popularity, and what makes each unique.
Read on to find out more.
What Is the National Lottery?
The National Lottery has been running since 1994 and offers several games, including Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball, and Set For Life. Players pick numbers or opt for a Lucky Dip, then enter draws held on fixed days each week.
Tickets can be bought online or from retailers. Part of every ticket price goes into prize funds, and a share supports projects across the UK. The National Lottery is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), with protections such as an 18-plus age requirement and optional spend and time limits.
That is the National Lottery in a nutshell. The Postcode Lottery takes a different approach.
What Is the Postcode Lottery?
The Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery that uses players’ postcodes instead of individual number lines. Players sign up with their home postcode and pay a monthly fee for entry. Draws are made from the pool of registered postcodes, and if a postcode is selected, everyone with a ticket to that postcode receives the relevant prize or share.
Prizes are split among all tickets registered to the winning postcode. Buying more than one ticket for the same postcode increases the share received if that postcode wins. As with the National Lottery, part of the income is allocated to good causes.
With the format clear, the next question is how much each option costs to join.
How Do Ticket Prices Compare?
Ticket pricing works differently for the two lotteries.
The National Lottery sells tickets per draw. A standard Lotto line costs £2, while EuroMillions is £2.50 per line. Players pay each time they enter.
The Postcode Lottery works on a subscription basis. The current monthly fee is £12.25 for each ticket attached to a player’s postcode, covering all eligible draws that month.
Subscriptions are taken automatically, which some players appreciate, but it is important to make sure the ongoing cost fits your budget.
Price is only part of the story. What do the prizes look like once you have entered?
How Do the Prizes Work?
Prize structures reflect the different formats.
In the National Lottery, each game has several prize tiers based on how many numbers are matched. Jackpots can be shared if there are multiple winners at the same level. Most prizes are paid as lump sums, although Set For Life provides fixed monthly payments over a set number of years.
In the Postcode Lottery, prizes are connected to postcodes that are drawn. If a postcode wins, the prize is shared among all tickets registered to that postcode. Payouts for winners are typically cash, though the exact rewards depend on the specific draw.
If you are comparing games or planning how to play, it is worth checking the official prize breakdowns and payment rules for the draw you are interested in.
With prize types covered, the next practical question is the chance of winning.
Which Lottery Has Better Odds of Winning?
Odds vary depending on how each lottery game is structured.
For the National Lottery, the probabilities differ between games and prize tiers:
- In Lotto, the odds of winning the jackpot (matching all six main numbers) are 1 in 45,057,474.
- The overall chance of winning any prize in Lotto is around 1 in 9.3.
- In EuroMillions, the odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 139,838,160.
- Games such as Thunderball and Set For Life use different number pools, resulting in different odds for each prize tier.
For the People’s Postcode Lottery, odds depend on how many postcodes are entered into each draw and how many tickets are registered to each postcode.
- On average, the chance of winning any prize is estimated at 1 in 5.1 based on 2024 data.
- The likelihood of winning one of the larger prizes, such as “Postcode Millions” or “Millionaire Street”, is significantly lower and varies by draw.
Buying more tickets increases the total number of entries but does not change the odds for each individual ticket. There is no guarantee of winning, and participation should always be seen as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money.
How Are the Funds Used for Good Causes?
Both lotteries channel a share of their income to charities and community projects.
With the National Lottery, a set proportion of each ticket price goes into a central fund. That money is then distributed by specialist bodies to support projects in areas such as health, education, arts, heritage, and sport.
The Postcode Lottery also allocates a portion of its revenue to good causes, awarding grants to charities and local initiatives. Both organisations publish information about recipients and amounts, so it is easy to see some of the outcomes supported by players.
Funding and profile also play a part in how widely each lottery is known.
Which Lottery Is More Popular in the UK?
The National Lottery has been a fixture since the 1990s and typically reports very high ticket sales across its games. It is available online and through a large network of retailers, which helps maintain its reach.
The Postcode Lottery has grown steadily and is well known in its own right. Its subscription model means participation may be tracked month by month, and its postcode-based prizes have a clear community angle.
Overall, the National Lottery tends to have more players, but popularity on its own does not decide what suits an individual.
Postcode Lottery vs National Lottery: Which Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on what you want from a lottery. Those who like picking numbers, entering on specific draw days, and choosing between different games may prefer the National Lottery. Anyone who prefers a simple subscription and prizes tied to their area might appreciate the Postcode Lottery format.
It may help to compare practical points side by side: how you like to pay, how prizes are shared or paid, the frequency of draws, and how the odds work in the games you prefer. If supporting particular causes matters to you, check the public reports on where funds go.
Whichever you pick, keep it affordable and treat it as entertainment. If you have concerns about your play, independent advice is available from GamCare and BeGambleAware. Making informed choices helps you enjoy the experience responsibly.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**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.