Postcode Lottery returned €1bn to charities for first time

The Postcode Lottery Group has celebrated the international popularity of its product after declaring revenue of €2.8bn (£2.4bn) in revenue for 2025.

The Amsterdam-based organisation, formerly known as the People’s Postcode Lottery until a rebrand earlier this year, is the largest operator of charity lotteries in Europe.

According to a statement published this morning, the €2.8bn in 2025 revenue raised €1bn for charities and social initiatives – the first time the organisation has surpassed this mark, having achieved €969m in 2024.

The lottery states that it has now raised €15.5bn for charities since its creation in the Netherlands in 1989. Aside from its home nation, the lottery is active in the UK, Sweden, Norway and Germany.

“2025 was an exceptional year for Postcode Lottery Group and for the millions of players who make our mission possible,” said Sigrid van Aken, Chief Executive Officer of the Postcode Lottery Group.

“Reaching the milestone of €1bn raised for charities in a single year is a significant achievement for our organisation, our charity partners and our players.

“It reflects the strength of our unique model, the dedication of our colleagues and partners, and above all the continued support of our players.”

The international postcode

The lottery has also taken note of individual milestones in the abovementioned markets:

• A record breaking UK performance with 5.2 million subscribers and strongest sales to date
• Continued growth in Germany with over two million active monthly subscribers
• The firm’s 35th consecutive year of growth in the Netherlands
• Stable revenue in Sweden, where it has been active for 20 years
• A new long-term permit in Norway

The company continues to target international opportunities, with the UK in particular posing some potential for further growth.

Some Northern Irish politicians are calling for social lotteries to be permitted in the country – the only one of the four nations of the UK to not permit them. 

This prospect has been praised by the Postcode Lottery – though it has had some less positive words to say about other UK regulatory topics, particularly the way charity lotteries and the National Lottery are regulated.

Regardless, the lottery remains confident in its objective to ‘deliver meaningful support to charities and commutes worldwide’ following the completion of 2025’s milestones.

“What began in the Netherlands more than three decades ago has grown into an international organisation operating across multiple countries, while remaining firmly connected to the values and vision on which the Postcode Lottery was founded,” said van Aken.

“At the same time, our new brand identity marks an exciting step forward as we continue to grow internationally while staying true to our principles.”