Our activities
The Netherlands
Nationale Postcode Loterij and VriendenLoterij in the Netherlands raise funds for charities. They share the same parent company (Holding Nationale Goede Doelen Loterijen NV).
Nationale Postcode Loterij (Dutch Postcode Lottery) was launched in 1989 to raise money for charity organisations. Nationale Postcode Loterij supports people and planet.
VriendenLoterij (FriendsLottery) started in 1989. VriendenLoterij supports the preservation of cultural heritage and well-being of people.
Great Britain
People's Postcode Lottery was first piloted in the north of England in 2005. Three years later, in 2008, it was launched in Scotland and since 2010 it has been operating throughout Great Britain.
People’s Postcode Lottery supports charities across Great Britain and internationally.
The total investment was €61 Million.
Sweden
Svenska Postkodlotteriet started in 2005, following three years of preparation. It has grown rapidly since 2006 and supports over 60 charities with significant contributions each year.
According to the Swedish Gambling Authority, the Postcode Lottery is the largest charity lottery in Sweden considering both terms of turnover and contribution to charities.
The total investment was €28 Million.
Germany
Deutsche Postcode Lotterie was launched across Germany in 2016. The lottery supports charities across the country, with funds raised benefiting causes in proportion to the number of players in each state. The Postcode Lottery Group covers the risks and expenses associated with establishing this initiative.
The charity lottery permit is governed by obligations and restrictions, including a cap on the main prize (max. €2 million), regulations on allowable costs, a lottery tax of 16.67%, and a commitment to making meaningful contributions to charity.
Norway
Norsk Postkodelotteri was launched in Norway in 2018. The lottery supports SOS-barnebyer and WWF Norge.
The license comes with clear demands regarding turn-over and marketing; the turnover is limited to MNOK 300 on a yearly basis and the marketing investments are limited to 15% of the turnover after paid out prizes. Only 125,000 lottery subscriptions are available.
The Norwegian lottery market was re-regulated in 2015 and five licenses were made available for charity lotteries. One of the licenses is held by SOS-barnebyer and WWF Norway. This gives them the right to market Postcode Lottery in Norway for nine years and one.
Canadian Postcode Lottery Foundation
The Canadian Postcode Lottery Foundation was established in 2023 with the goal to support and strengthen Ontario-based charities and community initiatives.
Whether through workshops, stimulating partnerships and collaborations, awareness raising or financial support, we're committed to working with charities to create positive change in Ontario.
Reinvesting to widen our impact
The Postcode Lottery Group receives a licence fee for the use of its IP, including brands and formats.
The Postcode Lottery Group owns, develops and invests in lottery brands and formats, including those of the Postcode Lottery, with which it successfully sets up and operates Postcode Lotteries in different countries.
The Postcode Lottery Group receives a licence fee from each Postcode Lottery for the use of its intellectual property rights, including brands and formats. Each lottery’s licence fee is calculated as a percentage of its proceeds.
The fee is used to cover the headquarter costs, which mainly relate to the continued development, and protection of the Postcode Lottery Group's formats and to finance, set up and market Postcode Lotteries in new and existing countries.
The Postcode Lottery Group bears high financial risks in setting up each new Postcode Lottery, and substantial investment is required to bring a local lottery to market and to enable it to offer an attractive prize plan and distribute donations to charities from the start. Charities receive their yearly donations from the local Postcode Lotteries in the countries where the money is raised by the players.
International
The European Lotteries
The Postcode Lottery Group is a member of European Lotteries (EL), an umbrella organisation that brings together national lotteries involved in games of chance. EL boasts approximately 50 members across all EU member states and a total of over 70 members, making it the largest advocacy group in the industry.
Being part of this network entails the exchange of best practices related to responsible gaming, participation in marketing seminars, and collaborative lobbying efforts. It also serves as an inspiration for other lotteries to enhance their societal contributions.
Acleu
Every Postcode Lottery is affiliated with the Association of Charity Lotteries in the Europe (ACLEU). This association advocates for the interests of charity lotteries and their beneficiaries across European nations.
ACLEU aims to amplify the voice of charity lotteries in European discussions and enhance awareness for the charity lottery model that has already been proven to be successful in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain and Ireland. The goal is to shift the perception of fundraising by lotteries from being considered a mere 'ancillary effect of gambling' to becoming the primary objective of lottery legislation in all European countries.
