If you sign up with a People’s Postcode Lottery referral code or link, signing up through it can get you a £15 gift card once you’ve played your first paid draw. Here’s exactly how the scheme works, who qualifies, and what to check before you join.
Join here with a Postcode Lottery refer a friend invitation to get your £15 gift card.
This is part of the official Postcode Lottery refer-a-friend programme.
Quick Answer
- Reward: £15 gift card for you and £15 for the friend who referred you (choice of Tesco, M&S, John Lewis, Boots, Odeon or Deliveroo)
- How to qualify: Sign up using a current player’s referral link, then play and pay for at least one draw
- Who can refer you: Only existing Postcode Lottery players who’ve registered for the scheme
- Cost to play: From £12.50 a month per line, billed in advance
- Link to sign up: https://postcodelottery.mention-me.com/m/ol/oq4gq-426c983f15
What Is the People’s Postcode Lottery?
The People’s Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery that operates across Great Britain. Instead of picking numbers, your postcode acts as your ticket, and winning postcodes are announced in daily and monthly draws. It’s licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission (account number 829), and it says a minimum of 30% of every ticket price goes to charity, with more than 120 good causes supported through its network of charitable trusts.
It’s worth noting this is a different service from Pick My Postcode, a free daily draw site that people often search for using similar terms, more on that distinction below.
How the Refer a Friend Scheme Works
The referral programme, which the Postcode Lottery calls “Refer a Friend,” rewards both sides of the referral:
- An existing player shares their personal referral link or code with a friend.
- The friend signs up as a new player using that link and selects a subscription.
- The new player plays and pays for their first draw.
- Once that draw has taken place, both the referrer and the new player receive an email invitation to claim a £15 gift card.
Gift card choices currently include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Boots, Odeon and Deliveroo. Claim links are generally valid for a minimum of 60 days from issue, so it’s worth claiming yours promptly rather than letting the email sit unread.
Referrers are capped at five successful referrals per year, meaning the maximum a single player can earn from referrals alone is around £75 annually. Because rewards depend on an active promotion that the operator can change or withdraw, always check the current terms on the official site before assuming a specific amount or retailer list applies.
Step-by-Step: How to Claim Your £15 Gift Card
- Get a genuine referral link. You’ll need this from a friend, family member or colleague who already plays and has registered for the referral scheme.
- Sign up and choose a subscription. Follow the link, create your account, and pick how many lines (postcodes) you want to play.
- Play your first paid draw. The reward only triggers once you’ve actually paid for and entered a draw (signing up alone isn’t enough).
- Watch your inbox. After your first draw takes place, both you and your referrer will be emailed a claim link for the £15 gift card. This can take a little while to arrive, since it depends on the draw schedule, not the sign-up date.
- Claim within the validity window. Follow the emailed link and choose your preferred retailer before the claim link expires.
Postcode lottery: referred by a friend name
Enter the name when you sign up to receive a gift card of your choice after your play your first draw.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify as a new player through a referral, you generally need to:
- Be 18 or over
- Be a resident of Great Britain
- Be a genuinely new player, or have been inactive for 24 months or more
- Sign up using a valid referral link from an existing, registered player
- Play and pay for at least one draw
Referrers, meanwhile, must already be active players who have opted into the referral scheme themselves before they can generate a link to share.
What Does It Cost to Play?
Unlike free prize-draw sites, the People’s Postcode Lottery is a paid subscription. As of the operator’s current terms, entry starts at £12.50 a month per line, billed in advance, which covers you for that month’s draws. Winnings are typically tax-free in the UK, since lottery prizes aren’t subject to Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax under normal circumstances. This cost is separate from and unaffected by the referral bonus itself; you don’t need to pay extra to take part in Refer a Friend.
Is the Postcode Lottery Referral Scheme Legit?
Yes. The People’s Postcode Lottery is a well-established, Gambling Commission–licensed operator with millions of players and a long track record of paying out prizes and supporting charities. The referral scheme is an official feature run directly through player accounts, not a third-party promotion, so there’s no code to “buy” or separate app to trust — you simply need a link from a real player.
That said, it’s still a lottery: winning any of the main prize draws is down to chance, and the referral reward is the only guaranteed return from signing up. Treat it as a modest sign-up perk rather than a way to make money, and only play with money you’re comfortable spending on entertainment.
Postcode Lottery vs. Pick My Postcode: What’s the Difference?
These two are frequently confused because they share the “postcode” branding and mechanic, but they’re unrelated services:
| People’s Postcode Lottery | Pick My Postcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid subscription (from £12.50/month per line) | Free to enter |
| How you win | Your postcode is drawn in official draws | Your postcode is drawn in the site’s daily draws |
| Referral reward | £15 gift card each, after referred player’s first paid draw | Small cash bonus per referral (up to a capped total) |
| Regulation | Gambling Commission licensed | Free prize draw, not gambling-regulated in the same way |
If you want a completely free way to try your luck, Pick My Postcode is the one to register for. If you’re happy to pay for a subscription — and want a share of larger, charity-linked prize pots — the People’s Postcode Lottery is the one a referral code unlocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a referral code without knowing an existing player? Not directly. Referral links can only be generated by people who already play and have opted into the scheme, so you’ll need one from a friend, family member, or a public code someone has shared, for example on social media.
How long does the £15 gift card take to arrive? It depends on the draw schedule rather than your sign-up date. You’ll typically be emailed a claim link within a few days to a couple of weeks after your first paid draw has taken place. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the reward notification.
Do I have to keep playing to keep the gift card? No. Once you’ve played and paid for your qualifying first draw and claimed the reward, the gift card is yours regardless of whether you continue your subscription afterwards. You can cancel at any time through your account settings.
Can I choose which gift card I get? Yes, within the options offered at the time: currently Tesco, M&S, John Lewis, Boots, Odeon and Deliveroo.
Is there a limit to how many friends I can refer? As a referrer, rewards are capped at five successful referrals per year. You can still invite more people, but additional referrals beyond that cap won’t earn a further reward until the next annual cycle.
Are referral gift cards taxable? Lottery winnings and promotional rewards like this are generally not subject to UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax, though tax treatment can depend on individual circumstances, so it’s not financial advice, check gov.uk or a tax adviser if you’re unsure.
What if my referral link has expired? Referral and claim links are usually time-limited. If a link doesn’t work, ask your referrer for a fresh one, or check the official People’s Postcode Lottery site directly to sign up and ask about current promotions.
Should You Sign Up Through a Referral Code?
If you were already considering joining the People’s Postcode Lottery, using a referral link costs you nothing extra and adds a £15 gift card on top of your first month’s play. Just go in with realistic expectations: the guaranteed value is the £15 sign-up perk, everything else is a game of chance, and the subscription itself is a genuine monthly cost, not a free trial.
Details correct as of September 2026 based on the operator’s published terms. Referral rewards, retailer options and eligibility rules can change, so always confirm the current offer on the official People’s Postcode Lottery site before signing up.
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