Ever wondered just how many postcodes take part in the People’s Postcode Lottery? If you’ve seen adverts or heard neighbours chatting about sharing a prize with their street, you might be curious about how it all works.
You might have asked whether anyone can enter with any postcode, or if there are rules about which addresses you can use.
Understanding how postcodes are included, and whether you can play with any you like, is useful before deciding if it’s for you. There’s a bit more to it than picking a set of letters and numbers.
How Many Postcodes Are Included In The Postcode Lottery?
The People’s Postcode Lottery uses full postcodes from across the UK. To play, you use the exact postcode for your home. A full postcode, such as “SW1A 1AA”, covers a small group of properties and sometimes just one.
There are around 1.8 million full postcodes in the UK. Not all are in play at the same time. Only postcodes with at least one paid entry in a draw are included. If nobody in your postcode has an active ticket, it will not be in that week’s or month’s draw.
Entries are tied to real home addresses, which means prizes go to participants living at those addresses. Postcodes with multiple paid entries are eligible for shared prizes when they win.
Each draw selects from the pool of postcodes that have active entries at that time, so the mix of postcodes changes regularly. In practice, this means a large number of postcodes take part each month, but the exact count varies with participation.
So can you pick any postcode you fancy? Not quite, and here’s why.
Can You Enter Any Postcode In The Postcode Lottery?
You can only enter the People’s Postcode Lottery using the full postcode of your own home address. When you sign up, your entry is linked to where you live and may be checked for accuracy.
It is not possible to use a postcode where you do not live or an address chosen at random. If you move, you can switch your entry to your new postcode so future draws reflect your current home.
People in shared buildings, such as blocks of flats, use their specific flat or unit number alongside the common postcode. This helps allocate prize shares correctly when several households at the same location take part.
The address used must be genuine, based in the UK, and where you usually live. Using a friend’s or relative’s address is not allowed under the rules, which helps keep the draw fair.
That raises the next point: who is eligible to take part?
Who Can Enter The Postcode Lottery?
To enter the People’s Postcode Lottery, you must be at least 18 years old. You also need to live in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands are not currently included.
A valid UK residential address and postcode are required, as prizes are linked to where you live. Payment is usually taken by direct debit from a UK bank account in your name.
Entries must be made in your own details. You cannot sign up using someone else’s address, a business address or a fictional name. Only private individuals can take part.
If you move within the eligible regions, you can update your details to keep playing. If you leave the UK or no longer meet the requirements, your entry will be cancelled. Keeping your contact and payment details up to date helps prevent delays with prize notifications or payments.
If that sounds like you, registration is straightforward.
How To Register Your Postcode
Registering your postcode involves providing your full UK home address and personal details online or over the phone. You will be asked for your postcode, house number or flat details, and information such as your name and date of birth. Contact details, like an email address and phone number, are used to send updates and prize notifications.
Payment is set up by direct debit from a UK bank account in your name. Address checks may be carried out to confirm you live where you say you do. Accurate, current information helps match any prize to the right person at the right address.
If you move, you can let the lottery know your new address and postcode so your entry follows you. Once set up, your postcode is linked to your ticket for future draws.
What Happens If Multiple People Share A Postcode?
When several people in the same postcode play, each paid ticket is counted separately. If that postcode wins, the total prize for that draw is shared among those tickets.
For example, if five neighbours in separate flats all have active entries for the same postcode and it wins, each ticket receives an equal share. Holding more than one ticket means receiving more than one share.
Flats and subdivided properties use both the shared postcode and the individual flat or unit details. This ensures prize shares go to the correct households within the building.
This approach spreads prizes fairly among everyone who entered with the winning location. Move home? Here is how to keep your entry up to date.
Can I Change My Entry Or Enter A New Postcode After Moving?
If you move to a new address, you can update your entry with your new postcode. It is important to tell the People’s Postcode Lottery about any change of address, because your ticket is always linked to where you live.
To update your details, contact the lottery directly by phone, email or through your online account. You will be asked for your new address so future draws match your current home. It is also worth checking your payment details are correct if your banking has changed.
Once the change is processed, your old postcode will no longer be linked to your ticket. This keeps the process clear and fair for everyone.
Prizes And How Winning Postcodes Are Selected
Prizes in the People’s Postcode Lottery are awarded through daily draws, with larger prizes on weekends and on certain special dates each month. Your ticket is matched with the full postcode you provided when you registered.
Winning postcodes are chosen at random from all postcodes that have at least one paid entry in the relevant draw. The process uses secure, certified computer software so the outcome is fair and independent.
If your postcode is selected and you have an active entry, you receive a share of the prize alongside anyone else who played with that postcode. What you receive depends on how many tickets you hold and how many paid entries there are in the winning postcode.
Some draws award smaller prizes more often, while others, such as Street Prizes or Postcode Millions, offer higher amounts. The schedule and prize details are set out in the lottery’s published terms and draw calendar.
Only players with active entries in the drawn postcode can claim a prize. Payments are typically made by bank transfer or cheque, and the lottery will contact you directly if your registered details match a winning postcode.
In short, while the UK has around 1.8 million postcodes, only those with active players are in each draw, and entries must use your own home address. If you choose to play, set affordable limits and never chase losses.
*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.