Thinking about entering a lottery but not sure which one suits you? You might have seen adverts for the People’s Postcode Lottery or heard friends chatting about their weekly National Lottery tickets. Both are available across the UK, yet they work in different ways.
You’ll find different entry methods, prize models and odds. Whether you want to know how your postcode comes into play or how number draws work, there’s plenty worth understanding first.
Before you spend anything, it helps to see how each option actually operates. From entry to prize payments, this guide runs through the essentials in plain English, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
What Is the Postcode Lottery and How To Play?
The People’s Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery available across most of the UK. Instead of choosing numbers, your ticket is your postcode, so your entry is tied to your address.
You join online or by phone, give your full address and set up a monthly payment, usually £12 for one ticket that covers all draws that month. Your postcode then goes into several draws held across the week and month.
Winning postcodes are selected at random. If yours is drawn, everyone playing with that postcode wins the prize allocated to that draw. Some draws are for daily or weekly amounts, while monthly events usually offer larger awards. Because entries are based on addresses, neighbours who subscribe can win at the same time.
Prizes are paid directly into the bank account linked to the subscription, and players are contacted automatically if their postcode is selected.
So how does that differ from number-based games?
What Is the National Lottery and How To Play?
The National Lottery has been running since 1994 and includes several games, such as Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball and Set For Life. Each one has its own price, prize structure and rules.
For the main Lotto game, players choose six numbers between 1 and 59 or request a random selection. Tickets can be bought online, through the official app, or in shops across the UK. Each line costs £2, and draws take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Prizes range from smaller amounts for a few matches to a multi-million pound jackpot for matching all six.
Other games work a little differently. EuroMillions draws are on Tuesdays and Fridays, with numbers chosen from two pools. Thunderball and Set For Life each have their own format and prize tables, so the way you win and what you can win varies by game.
If a prize is won online or in the app, smaller amounts are usually paid automatically into your account. For tickets bought in shops, lower prizes can be collected at the retailer, while larger amounts are claimed through the official operator.
With the basics in place, it helps to look at the chances of winning.
What Are the Odds of Winning Each Lottery?
The odds are different for each game and format.
For the main Lotto draw, the chance of matching all six numbers and winning the jackpot is about 1 in 45 million. The odds for smaller fixed prizes are shorter, such as roughly 1 in 97 for matching three numbers.
EuroMillions has its own probabilities. Matching five main numbers and two star numbers to win the jackpot is around 1 in 139 million.
The People’s Postcode Lottery uses a postcode-based draw, so the figures are calculated differently. The operator reported that in 2023 the estimated chance of any one ticket winning a prize was around 1 in 2,000, based on the number of postcodes entered across the year.
Each lottery publishes current odds and prize tables on its website, which is the best place to check for updates.
Odds aside, how prizes are split and paid can be just as important.
How Are Prizes, Payouts and Sharing Handled?
In the National Lottery, if more than one ticket wins the jackpot in the same draw, the top prize is shared equally. Most lower-tier prizes are fixed amounts that do not change when many people win. Winnings from online tickets usually go straight into your lottery account. Shop-bought tickets can be paid at participating retailers for smaller sums, while larger claims are handled by the official operator and may require ID and a claim form.
In the People’s Postcode Lottery, prize allocation depends on the specific draw. If a full postcode is drawn, all subscribed players in that postcode share the prize fund assigned to that draw. Monthly events often involve larger pots that are divided among every winning ticket in the selected postcode or group of postcodes.
Payments are sent directly to the bank account linked to the subscription, so there is no separate claim process.
Now that payouts are clear, it is useful to compare costs and prize structures.
Ticket Costs and Prize Structure Compared
The main Lotto game costs £2 per line, and you can buy as many lines as you choose, each giving a separate entry. EuroMillions is priced at £2.50 per line. Other games have their own ticket prices.
The People’s Postcode Lottery uses a subscription rather than pay-per-line. A single ticket is £12.25 per month and covers every draw that month. There is no option to buy for a single draw, as entries run automatically while the subscription is active.
Prize profiles differ, too. The National Lottery offers jackpots that can reach many millions, especially when there have been rollovers, alongside fixed amounts for matching fewer numbers. In the Postcode Lottery, the overall prize pool is spread across daily, weekly and monthly draws, with prizes commonly shared among players in the winning postcode. Top monthly awards can be sizeable, though individual payouts are usually lower than the largest National Lottery jackpots.
Both lotteries pay out in cash. For a full breakdown of current costs and prizes, the official websites publish up-to-date details.
With the practical details covered, the final choice comes down to what matters most to you.
What Should Players Consider When Choosing Between Them?
When comparing these options, it helps to think about how you prefer to take part. The National Lottery lets you buy tickets whenever you like and choose numbers for each draw, with no ongoing commitment. The Postcode Lottery runs on a monthly subscription that enters your postcode into a schedule of draws without needing to buy individual tickets each time.
Consider the prize profile that appeals to you. The National Lottery is associated with very large jackpots, particularly during special events and rollovers. The Postcode Lottery focuses on frequent awards that can be shared among players in the same postcode.
Think about how prizes are shared. Number draws may split the jackpot if several tickets match the top combination, while postcode-based draws divide the pot among all subscribed players in the selected postcode.
Convenience can also play a role. Some people like the flexibility of occasional purchases in a shop or online. Others prefer a set-and-forget subscription that runs in the background.
If you have questions or want impartial advice about playing safely, free help is available from GambleAware. Whatever you choose, treat participation as paid entertainment and stick to limits that work for you.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game 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.