If you’re curious about the difference between the National Lottery and the Postcode Lottery, you’re not alone. With so many ways to play, it can be tricky to pin down how each lottery works and what you could win.
Maybe you’ve seen adverts for both, or heard neighbours discussing local prize draws. You might be weighing up the odds, the prize types on offer, or which format suits you best.
In this guide, you’ll find clear comparisons on how each lottery operates, what the odds look like, and how prizes are paid. By the end, you’ll have a straightforward view of what sets these two well-known UK lotteries apart.
How Do The National Lottery And Postcode Lottery Differ?
The National Lottery and the Postcode Lottery both run in the UK but use very different entry methods and prize structures.
With the National Lottery, players choose their own numbers for each game. Draws are held on fixed days and the winning numbers are selected at random. If a line matches enough numbers, that entry wins a prize. Tickets are available in shops and online.
The Postcode Lottery links each entry to a full postcode. When a winning postcode is drawn, everyone playing with that postcode wins a share of the relevant prize. It is a subscription model, so entries renew monthly and are added to all draws covered by that month’s fee.
There is also a contrast in how prizes are awarded. National Lottery games can deliver large individual payouts. Postcode Lottery prizes often land across a street or area, with several neighbours winning together if they share the same postcode.
With the basics in place, it helps to look at what it costs to enter and how each game format works in practice.
Ticket Cost, Entry And Game Formats
National Lottery Ticket Types And Entry Rules
The National Lottery offers several games, including Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball and Set For Life. Each has its own price. A standard Lotto line currently costs £2, EuroMillions is £2.50 per line, and Thunderball is £1 per line.
Players can buy tickets in shops or online. The minimum age is 18. For each line, numbers are selected according to the game format, such as six main numbers for Lotto, or five main numbers plus two Lucky Stars for EuroMillions. Playslips allow multiple lines, and there is an option to choose numbers manually or use a Lucky Dip for random selections. Entries close before the draw, typically around 7.30pm.
Postcode Lottery Ticket Types And Entry Rules
The People’s Postcode Lottery runs on a monthly subscription rather than single tickets. One subscription costs £12 per month and covers all the draws in that period. Each entry is tied to the player’s full postcode, so there are no individual numbers to pick.
Subscriptions are set up online or by phone and are linked to the player’s address. Additional subscriptions can be added if someone wants their postcode to be entered more than once. Entrants must be at least 18 and live in England, Scotland or Wales. Draws run daily and at weekends, with prizes allocated to the postcodes that come up.
Costs and entry rules are one piece of the puzzle. Next comes the question everyone asks first: What are the chances of winning?
How Do The Odds Compare?
Each National Lottery game has different odds. For Lotto, the chance of matching all six main numbers to win the jackpot is 1 in 45,057,474. Smaller prizes, such as matching three numbers, are more likely, and the odds improve as the prize tier lowers.
EuroMillions has longer odds for the top prize. To win the EuroMillions jackpot, a line must match five main numbers plus two Lucky Stars. The odds for that outcome are roughly 1 in 139,838,160.
The Postcode Lottery measures odds differently because prizes are awarded by postcode rather than by selecting personal numbers. The chance of winning any prize depends on overall participation and the number of draws in a month. According to figures published by the Postcode Lottery, around one in three tickets typically wins a prize in a given month, often including smaller amounts such as £10.
Put simply, National Lottery games centre on individual number matches with the possibility of very large top prizes. The Postcode Lottery spreads prize wins across many draws and often across groups of neighbours.
Understanding the odds sets up the next piece: how those odds translate into prize types and payouts.
Prize Structure And Typical Payouts
National Lottery games use tiered prize tables. For Lotto, matching all six main numbers wins the jackpot, which often starts in the low millions and can roll higher if not won. Matching three numbers pays a fixed £30. Other tiers cover matching two, four, five, or five plus the Bonus Ball, with payouts ranging from a free Lucky Dip entry to substantial sums.
EuroMillions can reach even larger jackpots, sometimes exceeding £100 million. Prizes start from matching two main numbers and rise through multiple tiers up to the full jackpot for matching all required numbers. Lower tiers pay smaller amounts that vary by draw and participation.
The Postcode Lottery pays in a different way. Rather than one giant jackpot, there are multiple draws that create many winners each week. Daily prizes often award £1,000 to the winning postcode. The weekly Saturday draw can deliver a larger sum, usually around £30,000 for each ticket in the winning postcode. Periodically, Postcode Millions events share a multi-million pound pot across an entire area, split among all players in the chosen postcode sector.
In both systems, unclaimed prizes are uncommon when playing online or by subscription, as prizes are linked to account details and paid directly.
Which Offers Larger Jackpots And Regular Prize Wins?
Jackpots are where the National Lottery stands out. Games like EuroMillions and Lotto can generate very large individual wins, with EuroMillions frequently promoting nine-figure top prizes and Lotto often starting in the millions.
The Postcode Lottery does not concentrate prize money into a single winner. Its biggest events, such as Postcode Millions, divide the pot among many people in the same area. Individual payouts from these shared events tend to be lower than a single National Lottery jackpot.
As for how often prizes land, the Postcode Lottery runs daily and weekly draws that can create frequent smaller wins. National Lottery games take place on set days with fewer overall prize events, but they offer the potential for much larger one-off payouts.
With that contrast in mind, it helps to see how winners are actually chosen and told about their results.
How Are Winners Selected And Notified?
National Lottery draws are carried out using approved random number procedures, with independent oversight. Results are published shortly after each draw online, in the app and through other official channels. Players who bought tickets in shops check their lines against the published numbers. Smaller shop-bought wins can usually be collected in-store, while larger ones are handled at designated locations.
For online entries, accounts are checked automatically after each draw. Winners receive an email, smaller prizes are credited to the player’s account, and larger wins prompt direct contact with instructions on next steps.
In the Postcode Lottery, electronic draws select winning postcodes at random. Everyone playing with a winning postcode gets the relevant prize share. Results are posted daily on the website and sent by email. Winners typically receive a letter, and larger prizes may also trigger a phone call. Prize money is usually paid straight into the nominated bank account.
Now that selection and notifications are clear, the final practical point is how prizes are paid and claimed.
Tax, Payout Methods And Claim Process
How To Claim A National Lottery Prize
How a National Lottery prize is claimed depends on where the ticket was bought and the amount won. Smaller wins under £500 are commonly paid in participating shops. Prizes between £500 and £50,000 are often claimed at Post Offices with ID.
For wins above £50,000, players arrange a claim directly with the National Lottery. This involves verifying identity and completing formalities before funds are transferred, typically to a bank account. Online wins up to £50,000 are paid into the player’s account automatically. Larger online wins follow a secure claim process before payment.
National Lottery prizes are paid free of UK income tax.
How To Claim A Postcode Lottery Prize
Postcode Lottery prizes are generally paid automatically. Cash wins are transferred to the bank account linked to the subscription, with no paper ticket required. For larger amounts, the team may get in touch to confirm details and complete the process. As with the National Lottery, prizes are paid free from UK income tax.
If you would like support or advice about gambling safely, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org or by calling the National Gambling Helpline.
Whichever option appeals, understanding how entries, odds, prizes and claims work should make it easier to decide which format fits what you want from a lottery.
*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.