Why Over a Million Swedes Play the Postcode Lottery Every Month
When asked why they play the Postcode Lottery, most Swedes give two answers: the excitement of winning and the joy of contributing to good causes.
The Postcode Lottery is built around a distinctive idea — winning together with your neighbours. More than one million Swedes aged 18 and older take part every month for a chance to win prizes such as cash, cars, products, and experiences.
Since its launch in Sweden in 2005, over 1,860 participants have become millionaires. In the past year alone, prizes worth more than 1.5 billion SEK were distributed. On average, one in six tickets wins, with about 9,000 prizes awarded every day.
How It Works
Prizes are drawn for a specific postal code, so when your area wins, everyone in that postcode celebrates together. Each ticket sale contributes to a shared surplus that funds nonprofit organisations working for a fairer and more sustainable society.
Supporting Nonprofits
So far, the lottery has donated over 16 billion SEK to 62 charitable organisations, making it Sweden’s largest private supporter of the nonprofit sector.
Among the organisations supported are Amnesty International, Save the Children (Rädda Barnen), Greenpeace, and UNICEF.
Creating Positive Impact
For many Swedes, participating means being part of something larger — helping people, animals, and the environment while enjoying the thrill of potential winnings.
Author’s summary: The Swedish Postcode Lottery unites communities through shared excitement and meaningful contributions, making generosity a rewarding national tradition.