Chances of Winning Omaze vs Lottery: Which Is Better?
When you hear about prize draws or lotteries, it can be hard to understand how they actually work and what the chances of winning are.
Omaze has become well known in the UK for offering houses and other prizes while raising money for charity, while the National Lottery’s Lotto is one of the most established draw-based games. Both involve chance, but they operate differently.
This blog explains how Omaze and the Lotto work, the cost of entering, and what your odds look like. By the end, you will have the key information to help decide which option might suit you best.
What Are The Chances of Winning Omaze?
Omaze runs prize draws where the winner is selected at random. Every entry is placed into the draw, and one is drawn out as the winner. Your chance of winning depends entirely on how many entries have been submitted in that particular draw. If fewer people enter, the odds may improve; if more people enter, the odds lengthen.
Omaze does not publish fixed odds because entry numbers vary between draws. For example, a large potential prize such as a house could attract hundreds of thousands of entries, while a smaller possible prize draw may attract fewer. This makes it difficult to give an exact probability in advance.
Entries are linked to donations, though the rules state that no purchase is necessary. A free postal entry option is available and is given equal weight in the draw. Whether you donate or post, each entry has the same chance of being selected.
It is important to view Omaze as a prize draw with a charitable purpose. Prizes are genuine, but winning depends only on the number of entries submitted and the random draw outcome.
What Are The Chances of Winning The Lottery?
The UK National Lottery’s Lotto is a draw-based game where six numbers are drawn from a pool of 59. To win the jackpot, you need to match all six numbers. The probability of this happening is 1 in 45,057,474.
There are other potential prize tiers with shorter odds:
- Match 2 numbers: around 1 in 10.3 (prize is a free Lucky Dip entry)
- Match 3 numbers: around 1 in 97
- Match 4 numbers: around 1 in 2,180
- Match 5 numbers: around 1 in 144,415
- Match 5 numbers + Bonus Ball: around 1 in 7,509,579
Each line you play is treated independently. Playing more lines gives you more separate chances, but each individual line carries the same odds. Choosing your own numbers or using a Lucky Dip makes no difference to the outcome, as draws are conducted at random.
The Lotto is not based on how many people enter; the odds are fixed because the draw is number-based, rather than entry-based.
Cost Breakdown
Understanding how much it costs to enter is an important part of deciding whether a game is right for you. In this section, we’ll look at the entry costs for both Omaze and the National Lottery’s Lotto.
Cost To Enter Omaze
Omaze offers several ways to enter. You can post a free entry or donate through their website.
Donation levels usually start at £10, with larger donations such as £25 or £45 giving you more entries. Possible promotions can sometimes increase the number of entries for the same donation.
It’s important to note that donating more increases how many entries you hold, but it does not alter the random nature of the draw.
Cost To Play The Lottery
The National Lottery’s Lotto costs £2 per line. Other UK National Lottery games have different prices:
- EuroMillions: £2.50 per line
- Thunderball: £1 per line
- Set For Life: £1.50 per line
When you buy a line, you are paying for a single set of numbers to be entered into that draw.
Has Anyone Won Omaze With Free Entry?
Omaze’s UK rules confirm that free postal entries are included in every draw, and they are treated the same as paid entries.
While most participants choose to donate, free entries are valid and have produced winners. This shows that donating is not required to win, though many players take part because donations also raise funds for charity partners.
Omaze vs Lottery: Which Is Better?
Comparing Omaze and the National Lottery depends on what you find more appealing.
- Omaze: Odds vary with each draw, and potential prizes often involve property or high-value goods. Entry numbers are unpredictable, so exact probabilities are unknown. Free entry is possible, though most people choose to donate. Money raised supports chosen charities.
- Lotto: Odds are fixed and published in advance, with a jackpot probability of about 1 in 45 million. The prizes are cash-based, ranging from free entries to multimillion-pound jackpots. The game is regulated and contributes to National Lottery good causes.
There is no game that is objectively “better.” Omaze offers changing prizes linked to charitable fundraising, while the Lotto offers possible cash prizes with transparent odds. Which feels more suitable depends on your preference for prize type, cost of entry, and whether you value fixed odds or are comfortable with variable entry numbers.
Both Omaze and the Lotto are classed as gambling in the UK because prizes are awarded by chance. Results cannot be guaranteed, and no strategy can influence them. If you take part, it is best to set a budget you can afford, see it as entertainment rather than income, and make use of tools, such as spend limits.
*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.
