Postcode Lottery Postcodes: How Many Are There & Can You Play Any?

If you are interested in playing the People’s Postcode Lottery, you may wonder how many postcodes are involved each round.

With thousands of postcodes across Great Britain, it helps to know how postcodes are entered and whether you can play with any postcode in a draw.

In this blog post, we’ll explain how the People’s Postcode Lottery works, how many postcodes are typically involved, and which postcodes you can join with.

What The Postcode Lottery Is And How It Works

The People’s Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery that uses your full home postcode as your ticket. It runs in Great Britain and is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Players can sign up online or by phone and add their postcode. Your ticket is linked to your full postcode, for example AB1 2CD, and remains entered in the draws while your subscription is active.

Each subscription has a monthly fee of £12.25 that enters you into all prize draws within that month, and your subscription can be cancelled at any time should you choose to stop playing.

Draws run daily, with prizes potentially paying out several times each week. When a postcode wins, everyone playing with that exact postcode shares the prize. Some draws have larger prize funds, while others have smaller daily awards.

Unlike traditional lotteries, there are no numbers to pick and no paper tickets. Your postcode is your entry, and part of the money raised supports charities and community projects across Britain.

How Many Postcodes Are In The Postcode Lottery?

Across Great Britain, there are more than 1.7 million unique postcodes. Entries in the People’s Postcode Lottery are based on full postcodes, each of which usually covers a small cluster of addresses.

To be eligible, a postcode must be valid, registered with Royal Mail, and in residential use. The lottery only covers England, Scotland and Wales, and does not include Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

If you move house, you can update your account, and your entry will switch to the new postcode for future draws.

Which Postcodes Can You Play In The Postcode Lottery?

You can play if you have a valid residential postcode in England, Scotland, or Wales recognised by Royal Mail. Entries are accepted only from Great Britain; addresses in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man are not eligible. Participation may be subject to age and identity verification checks in line with regulatory requirements.

The entry is designed for people playing from their home address; therefore, you may be asked for proof of address to confirm eligibility before confirming an entry or claiming any prize.

Business, commercial or other non-residential postcodes do not usually qualify, and entries made using such addresses may be void. Only one current postcode should be used per account; however, you can purchase up to six tickets per postcode.

If you change address, you can update your details so future entries reflect your current address and any prizes are sent to the correct place. Please make updates before entering, as prizes can only be sent to the verified address on file.

There is no requirement to live in a particular region or a large town. Any eligible residential postcode within Great Britain can be used, whether urban or rural, provided it is registered with the Royal Mail.

It is important to remember that all draws are random, meaning all postcodes have the same chance of winning. Postcodes in large towns or cities do not have a higher chance of winning than postcodes in rural areas. If you hold multiple tickets for one postcode and it is drawn, you will win a prize for each ticket you hold in that winning postcode.

Can You Join With Any Postcode?

Only residential postcodes in England, Scotland or Wales are accepted, and they must be recognised by Royal Mail. Workplace or business addresses cannot be used, as entries are tied to where a player lives.

If you move, updating your account switches your entry to the new postcode for future draws. The lottery is not available in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Provided your postcode meets these conditions, you can join, and your address will be entered into the draws as long as your subscription remains active.

What Happens If Your Postcode Changes?

If you move house and your postcode changes, you will remain in Postcode Lottery draws; however, you must update your details. Once you provide the lottery with your new address, your entry will be moved to that postcode for subsequent draws only. Changes are not applied retrospectively and are subject to standard account and identity checks.

It is wise to update your details as soon as you move to avoid any interruption. If your old postcode wins after you have left and your account still shows the previous address, you could potentially miss a prize that would otherwise have applied while you were playing at that location. Prizes are only payable to the verified account holder and may require proof of address.

Each ticket is linked to one postcode at a time, so keeping your information current helps ensure your entry remains eligible for future draws. Any potential winnings are paid in line with the rules and verification procedures, and only after the change of address has been confirmed.

You can usually update your address in your account settings or by contacting customer support. Allow a reasonable time for processing; the new postcode will apply from the first eligible draw after the update is completed.

Your personal information will be handled in accordance with data protection requirements and used solely to manage your account and prize payments.

If you choose to enter the Postcode Lottery, it is important to play responsibly by setting a strict budget within your means, ensuring you never spend more than you can afford.

_{**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.}