This is an editorial guide provided for information only. fortunegames.com is an online slots site and is not affiliated with, nor an agent of, ITV, Global, Postcode Lottery Limited or any operator named. Always check the official site for the latest information.
Birthday Draw vs Postcode Lottery: What’s the Difference?
The main difference is legal: the Postcode Lottery is a licensed lottery played by monthly subscription, while The Birthday Draw is a weekly prize draw from ITV and Global with a free postal entry route. A Postcode Lottery ticket costs £12.50 a month; a Birthday Draw entry costs £2 as a one-off or £1 for subscribers, for a weekly jackpot fund of at least £1 million, paid only to entries that match in full.
Prefer numbers? Slingo mixes a slot with a 5×5 number grid, and online scratchcards give an instant result.
New players: make your first deposit of £10 or more for one spin of the Mega Wheel, with a chance to win up to 500 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza. A prize is not guaranteed. Free spin winnings are paid as bonus funds with 10x wagering, up to a maximum set by Fortune Games, and the most bonus you can convert to real funds equals your lifetime deposits, up to £250.
18+. New players only. The spin isn’t given on a Quick Deposit or while a withdrawal is pending, and if you close the wheel without spinning it isn’t re-credited. Claim prizes within 7 days; bonus funds and pending offers are removed if your account is inactive for three days in a row. Full T&Cs. Fortune Games is not part of The National Lottery.
The two side by side
| The Birthday Draw | Postcode Lottery | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | ITV and Global | Postcode Lottery Limited |
| Legal type | Prize draw, free postal entry | Lottery, licensed by the Gambling Commission |
| Price | £2 single entry; £1 for subscribers | £12.50 a month |
| How often | Weekly; entries close at 23:59:59 on Sunday | Winners announced daily |
| Headline prize | Weekly jackpot fund of at least £1 million, paid only on a full match | £1 million Millionaire Street prize each Saturday, shared within one postcode |
| Where | UK residents aged 18 or over | Britain; not available in Northern Ireland |
How The Birthday Draw works
Each entry is a date (DD MM YY, within the last 100 years), a letter and one of 12 colours. A full match wins the jackpot; partial matches win smaller prizes, down to a fixed £5 for the day and month alone. Each account is capped at 60 entries a week. Free entries go by post using a 16-digit code from the website, and the terms give them the same chance as paid ones.
How the Postcode Lottery works
Your postcode is your ticket; every ticket in a drawn postcode wins. Each day, every ticket in 20 drawn postcodes wins £1,000. A monthly draw also pays either £250,000 to each ticket in one postcode or a larger Postcode Millions prize.
Why one counts as a lottery and the other doesn’t
Under Schedule 2 to the Gambling Act 2005, a draw is not treated as requiring payment if everyone can choose to enter by ordinary post instead, the option is publicised and both routes are treated alike for prizes. The Birthday Draw runs as a prize draw on that basis. Postcode Lottery Limited holds lottery manager licences from the Gambling Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Birthday Draw a lottery?
No. It runs as a prize draw, because it has a free postal entry route with the same chance as a paid entry.
How much do they cost?
A Birthday Draw entry is £2 as a single purchase or £1 for subscribers. A Postcode Lottery ticket is £12.50 a month.
Can you enter The Birthday Draw for free?
Yes. Post the 16-digit code from the website on a postcard or sealed envelope; you pay only for the stamp.
Related guides: how much a lottery ticket costs in the UK.
New to Fortune Games? Join today and see our welcome offer for new players.
18+. New players only. Welcome offer and T&Cs.
How we research and check our guides: our editorial policy.