Thinking about the Age UK Lottery but not quite sure how it works? You’re not alone.
Whether you’ve never played a lottery before, or just want to understand this one better, this guide breaks it all down in a simple, no-nonsense way.
We’ll cover how entries are made, how the draws operate, the prizes on offer, and how the funds help support Age UK’s work. You’ll also find clear information on the odds, responsible play, and the kind of things to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.
There’s no pressure and no push—just honest information to help you make an informed choice.
How The Entries System Works
The Age UK Lottery is a weekly draw-based game. This means that you enter with a paid entry, and at a set time each week, numbers are randomly drawn to determine who wins.
Each entry costs £1. You're allowed to buy up to six entries per week, which works out at a maximum of £6 per draw. Over a month, that’s roughly £26 if you enter every week with the maximum number of entries.
When you buy an entry, you’re allocated a randomly generated number. This number acts like a ticket for that week’s draw. If you enter more than once, you receive a different number for each entry, increasing the number of chances you have – but not guaranteeing a win.
For regular entries, a Direct Debit is available, which continues weekly until you choose to cancel. All draws are held on Fridays. Entries for each draw close in advance, so it may be worth checking cut-off times if you’re planning to enter close to the draw day.
You don’t need to pick your own numbers, and you won’t need to claim any potential prizes manually – winners should be contacted automatically.
Prize Payouts In Age UK Lottery
Each Friday draw pays out a total of 1,500 prizes. The current prize structure is:
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1st prize: £2,000
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2nd prize: £250
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3rd prize: £150
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4th prize: £100
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5th prize: £50
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495 prizes of £10
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1,000 prizes of £5
In addition to the regular weekly draw, all active weekly players are automatically entered into a Quarterly Superdraw. This is a separate draw held four times a year, and there’s no additional cost to take part if you already play the weekly lottery.
The Superdraw takes place every three months and guarantees 5,000 winners each time. Prizes range from £5 up to a top potential prize of £25,000. All prizes are awarded based on randomly drawn numbers, and none roll over to future draws.
Every draw is conducted using a Random Number Generator (RNG). There’s no pattern to the results and no influence from previous outcomes.
Odds Of Winning At A Glance
The Age UK Lottery is run through the Unity platform, which uses a fixed odds format. This means your chances of winning don't change based on how many people enter each week. Every entry is assigned a unique six-digit number, and prizes are awarded based on how many digits match the randomly drawn winning number, in the correct order and position.
Here’s how the odds work:
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Match 3 digits: 1 in 69
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Match 4 digits: 1 in 823
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Match 5 digits: 1 in 18,518
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Match all 6 digits: 1 in 1,000,000
Because these are fixed odds, every entry has the same chance of winning, regardless of how many others are playing. Prizes are only awarded when numbers match in sequence, so it’s important to remember that even though matches are possible, wins are never guaranteed.
There’s no system or approach that can increase your odds. Like all lottery games, results are random and based entirely on chance.
Supporting Charitable Causes
One reason some people choose to take part in the Age UK Lottery is because it helps support the charity’s work. Age UK is a national charity that helps older people across the UK, and the lottery is one of the ways it raises funds.
Part of every £1 entry goes towards Age UK’s services. These include things like free advice lines, local support for older people, friendship services, and campaigning work to help improve later life.
It may be worth knowing that the exact percentage going to charitable causes is explained in Age UK’s terms and conditions, which are available on their website. If you're interested in understanding how the funds are distributed, that’s the best place to look for the most recent figures.
Lotteries are a type of gambling, so you could lose money. Even small entry fees can add up, especially with regular play.
There’s no guaranteed win, so setting a spending limit you’re comfortable with can help keep things in check.
If gambling stops being enjoyable or feels like a problem, support is available from organisations like GamCare, BeGambleAware, and the National Gambling Helpline.
Tools like spending limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion can also help support safer play.
*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.