How Many Postcodes in People’s Postcode Lottery & Can You Enter Any?

Ever wondered how many postcodes actually take part in the People’s Postcode Lottery? You’re not alone. With so many players and prizes, it’s a hot topic for anyone curious about joining in.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself if your postcode could be a winner, or if you’re even able to sign up wherever you live in the UK. Knowing how the postcode system works for the lottery can help you decide if it’s the right game for you.

Stick around as we dig into how postcodes are used, how many really get included, and what that means for your chances. You might be surprised by how it all works!

How Many Postcodes Are In The People’s Postcode Lottery?

There are over 1.8 million unique postcodes across the UK. The People’s Postcode Lottery includes the vast majority of eligible postcodes in England, Scotland, and Wales, as long as they are active residential addresses.

Every month, thousands of different postcodes are selected as winners, spreading prizes around the country. Coverage is broad because draws use postcode units rather than larger districts, which keeps things focused on small neighbourhood areas.

Business addresses, PO Boxes and addresses outside Great Britain are excluded. The emphasis is on residential communities, so households sharing the same full postcode are treated together when that postcode is drawn.

To see why that matters, it helps to understand what a postcode unit actually is.

How The Lottery Defines A Postcode Unit

In the People’s Postcode Lottery, a postcode unit is the complete sequence of letters and numbers that identifies a small cluster of addresses. It is the full postcode you use for receiving your post, not the wider area code.

For example, SW1A 1AA is a postcode unit. It pinpoints a specific group of homes rather than a whole district.

When you enter, your ticket is linked to your own home’s postcode unit. If that exact sequence is drawn, prizes go to everyone playing with that postcode, not just one house.

This keeps things even within very local areas, so neighbours who enter on the same full postcode are treated the same when that postcode comes up.

With that in mind, it is easy to see why you cannot enter with a different area’s postcode.

Can I Enter Any Postcode?

You can only enter using the postcode where you actually live. Your entry is tied directly to your residential address and must reflect your genuine home details.

It is not possible to play with someone else’s postcode or pick a random one. This ensures prizes are awarded to real communities where players live.

If you move, update your details so your ticket matches your new postcode. Business addresses and PO Boxes are not accepted. Only standard residential postcodes within England, Scotland, or Wales are included in the draws.

If you are set on playing where you live, here is how tickets are linked to your postcode in practice.

How To Buy A Ticket For A Specific Postcode

Buying a ticket is straightforward, and it always uses your own residential postcode. You create an account in your name, provide your home address and postcode, and pay using a card registered to that same address. That verification keeps entries secure and tied to genuine homes.

Once your payment is set up, your entry sits under your full postcode unit. If you later move house, you can update your account so any future entries reflect your new address. Tickets cannot be purchased for someone else’s address or a random location, which is why prizes stay within real neighbourhoods.

If you would like to take part, you can sign up on our site using your own details and we will confirm your entry by email. Always 18+ and only spend what you can afford.

Who Can Be Named On A Postcode Ticket?

Only the person who signs up and pays can be named on a postcode ticket. Registration uses your own personal details, including your name, age and address.

Tickets cannot be shared, gifted or bought for someone else. The named account holder is the person officially entered and the one who can receive any prize from that entry.

People living at the same address can each have their own ticket, but every ticket must be in an individual name. All details should be accurate and up to date so there are no issues if your postcode is drawn.

So, when your postcode appears in a draw, how are winners identified within it?

How Winners Are Chosen Within A Postcode

Winners are picked through random draws. Each draw selects a specific postcode unit, and everyone with a ticket for that exact postcode is a winner for that round.

If several people hold tickets for the winning postcode, all of them share in the prize. In some draws, the total prize pot is divided among all tickets in the postcode. In others, a fixed amount is awarded per ticket. The structure depends on the particular draw type.

This approach means the focus is on communities. When a postcode is drawn, the people who entered on that postcode enjoy the result together.

Once a postcode is selected, what does that mean for the prize amounts?

What Prizes Are Linked To Winning Postcodes?

When your postcode is drawn in the People’s Postcode Lottery, you could receive a cash prize. The value depends on the draw type, such as daily, weekly or special event draws.

Daily draws usually award smaller amounts, while some weekly or monthly events can be much larger, sometimes running into thousands of pounds per ticket. Bigger events can see a postcode unit share a substantial prize pot, with six-figure totals split among players holding tickets for that full postcode.

Everyone playing with the winning postcode gets a prize. If you hold more than one ticket, your payout reflects the number of tickets registered to your name for that postcode.

Alongside cash, there are occasionally promotions that include extras like gift cards or holidays. Prizes are sent directly, so there is no need to claim.

With prizes handled that way, it is easy to see how misunderstandings can creep in about entering other postcodes.

Common Misconceptions About Entering Other Postcodes

It is a common belief that you can pick any postcode in the UK and enter for that area, but that is not the case. Your ticket must be linked to your own residential address, not a friend’s or a random location.

Another misconception is that a player can register multiple postcodes to improve their chances. Each person can enter only with their genuine home address, so multiple areas under one name are not allowed.

Some assume business addresses or PO Boxes are permitted, but the lottery only accepts standard residential postcodes in Great Britain.

It is also not possible to gift a postcode entry to someone else. Each player needs their own account in their own name at their own address.

If you want to see whether your area is involved, there is a simple way to check.

How To Check If Your Postcode Is Already Entered

The People’s Postcode Lottery website includes a postcode checker that shows whether there are entries linked to your postcode. Entering your full postcode will display if players are already registered in that area.

Even if others are playing on your street, you can still take part by registering your own ticket. More than one person at the same address or postcode can join, as long as each entry is in a separate name.

Seeing your postcode in recent winner announcements means someone nearby is playing, but you are only included if you hold a ticket in your name. If anything is unclear, the customer support team can confirm eligibility and help you get set up.

If your postcode is eligible and you choose to play, your entry is always tied to your own address and handled securely, keeping the focus on real households and local communities.

_{**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.}