Ever noticed Omaze adverts offering luxury houses and wondered how it compares to the familiar weekly lottery? You’re not alone. In the UK, both options offer big prizes, but there are key differences that can shape which one you want to explore.
From ticket costs to how winners are picked and where your money goes, these prize draws aren’t as similar as they might first seem. There is also the question of what you can actually win and what the realistic chances of winning are.
In this guide, you’ll see exactly how Omaze and traditional lotteries operate, how the odds are set, and what changes depending on which you choose. By the end, you’ll have clear information to help you make a well‑informed decision.
What Is Omaze And How Does It Work?
Omaze is a platform where you can enter prize draws, often for houses, cars, or cash, while also supporting UK charities. Instead of a standard lottery ticket, you buy entry bundles online, usually starting from around £10. Each entry gives you a random place in the draw, and higher‑priced bundles include more entries.
Prizes are usually large, with the headline often being a high‑value property. Each draw page explains the prize, closing date, and any extra details such as inclusions or conditions. Entry is mostly online, and there is also a free postal route explained in the terms. Postal entries can take longer to process.
A portion of every paid entry goes to a named charity, with the percentage set out in the prize terms for each competition. Once the deadline passes, a winner is chosen at random, with the process described as independently verified for fairness.
You must be at least 18 and reside in Great Britain. Unlike number‑based lotteries, you do not pick numbers. Winners are drawn from the pool of entries.
So how does that differ from buying a traditional lottery ticket and choosing numbers?
What Is A Traditional Lottery And How Does It Work?
A traditional lottery in the UK, such as the National Lottery, invites you to buy tickets that contain number combinations. With Lotto, for example, you choose six numbers from 1 to 59, and draws take place several times a week.
After sales close, a set of numbers is drawn at random from a machine. Prizes are awarded based on how many of your numbers match the draw. The jackpot is paid when all required numbers on a line match the numbers drawn.
Ticket prices are clearly stated and often start at £2 per line for the main games. You can buy tickets in shops and online. Some of the money from each ticket funds good causes across the UK, with the remainder used for prizes and operating costs.
To take part, you must be at least 18 and live in the UK or Isle of Man. Draws are operated in line with rules set by the Gambling Commission.
That structure leads to very different odds compared with an entry‑based prize draw.
How Do Odds Compare Between Omaze And The Lottery?
The chances of winning are calculated in different ways.
With the National Lottery’s Lotto game, the maths is fixed. You pick six numbers from 1 to 59, and the odds of matching all six for the jackpot are about 1 in 45 million. Other games, such as Thunderball or EuroMillions, have their own published odds.
Omaze does not use number selections. Each entry is a single place in the draw, and your chances depend on how many entries are in that competition by the time it closes. There is no fixed probability in advance because entry volumes can change throughout the campaign.
If the total number of entries is published after the draw, you can work out the probability. For example, with two million entries, each entry would have a 1 in two million chance. In some draws this can be lower than the jackpot odds in large lotteries, though volumes vary widely from prize to prize.
So while lottery odds are known upfront, Omaze odds are only clear after entries close. Both operators explain their draw processes and results on their official sites.
Odds are only part of the picture. What you stand to win also differs a lot.
How Do Prize Types And Prize Values Differ?
Omaze and the National Lottery offer very different prize experiences.
With Omaze, the headline prize is typically a high‑value property, often mortgage‑free and sometimes with an additional cash amount to help with initial costs. Other draws may offer cash, cars, or high‑end experiences, but the focus is usually on a luxury home. A property prize can involve ongoing bills, insurance, and maintenance, so the winner needs to factor in running costs even if the home is debt‑free.
The National Lottery focuses on cash prizes. The jackpot can reach many millions of pounds, especially when rollovers occur. There are also multiple prize tiers for matching fewer numbers. With games like EuroMillions, jackpots can be very large, and many players can win smaller amounts in the same draw. Scratch cards and instant win games are also available, with payouts that vary by game.
In short, Omaze usually has one major winner per draw with a small number of other prizes, while lotteries have set prize structures with many winners at different levels. That difference can be decisive depending on whether you prefer a tangible asset or straightforward cash.
Another contrast is how each operator uses the money from entries.
How Is Entry Money Split Between Prizes, Costs And Charity?
The split from each entry is handled differently.
With Omaze, a percentage of each paid entry goes to a nominated charity. The exact figure is stated for each competition. The rest covers the prize, marketing, staff, and the costs of running the draw. A full breakdown of the remainder is not always published, but the charity amount is made clear.
For the National Lottery, headline figures are published and easy to find. At the time of writing, around 55% of ticket sales go into the prize fund and about 25% supports charities and community projects. Retailers and operators receive a portion for selling tickets and running the games, and roughly 12% covers operating costs such as distribution and advertising. Percentages can change by game and over time, so it is worth checking the current details.
Both approaches support good causes, but the proportions and what they fund differ.
With that in mind, it helps to look at what you pay for entry and what you actually receive.
What Does Entry Cost And What Do You Actually Get?
When you buy a National Lottery ticket, the price is fixed by the operator. A Lotto line costs £2, which gives you one set of numbers for your chosen draw. You receive a receipt with your numbers and draw details, either in‑store or in your online account.
With Omaze, you buy entries or bundles on the website rather than picking numbers. The minimum spend is usually £10 and includes several entries, with larger bundles offering a lower price per entry. You receive a confirmation email showing how many entries you have for that draw. A free postal route is available, but each application is sent separately and takes time to process.
Whichever route you choose, each valid entry has an equal chance within its draw. If you prefer set odds, cash prizes, and fixed pricing, a traditional lottery fits that mould. If you would rather enter for a specific prize with variable odds and clearly presented charity support, Omaze is built around that model. Always read the terms before entering and only spend what you can comfortably 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.