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Postcode Lottery vs National Lottery
They’re both hugely popular UK lotteries, but they work in completely different ways. Here’s how People’s Postcode Lottery and the National Lottery compare.
How each works
The National Lottery sells individual tickets for specific draws (Lotto, EuroMillions and so on), where you pick numbers and play per draw. People’s Postcode Lottery is a monthly subscription — you play with your postcode rather than chosen numbers, and neighbours sharing a winning postcode win together.
Numbers vs postcodes
The biggest practical difference: you don’t choose numbers in the Postcode Lottery. Your postcode is your entry, which is why wins are often shared among whole streets at once.
Both fund good causes
The Postcode Lottery funds thousands of charities; the National Lottery funds community, sport, arts and heritage projects. For the Postcode Lottery specifically see how the Postcode Lottery works and the Postcode Lottery odds, and for the wider picture, the odds of winning the lottery.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between the Postcode Lottery and the National Lottery?
People’s Postcode Lottery is a subscription where neighbours sharing a postcode win together; the National Lottery sells individual tickets per draw.
Which raises money for charity?
Both do — the Postcode Lottery funds charities, the National Lottery funds good causes.
Do you pick numbers in the Postcode Lottery?
No — you play with your postcode rather than chosen numbers.
Related guides: the Postcode Lottery odds, how the Postcode Lottery works and the odds of winning the lottery.