Dutch Postcode Lottery

logos 03The way the Dutch Postcode Lottery works is a classic example of a win-win situation. After all, it’s not only our charities that are richly rewarded. Each year, more than 10 million players are treated to a host of prizes, ranging from full VIP treatment at a resort to becoming a millionaire overnight. The weekly PostcodeStreetprize, in which a whole street stands to win a spectacular cash award, is popular and well known throughout the Netherlands. The highlight of these neighbourhood awards is the PostcodeKanjer, given out on the 1th of January each year. This prize is the biggest in Dutch lottery history.

Since the start in 1989, the Dutch Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) has contributed over 5.5 billion euros to charity organisations dedicated to ‘people’ and ‘planet’. It now supports 112 charities worldwide and plays a pioneering role in the quest for a fair and enterprising, green and responsible world.

Results & key success factors

Postcode Lottery format

postcode nlThe postcode is the basis of the lottery number. A lottery ticket costs € 13,- per ticket per month.

1990- 2017: 5.5 billion euros for People and Planet

People play the lottery with a lottery ticket based on their postcode. So winners of the Postcode Street Prize or the ‘PostcodeKanjer’ are usually neighbours. This is what makes playing the Postcode Lottery so unique: all players in a street of neighbourhood win together.

The licence of the Dutch Postcode Lottery stipulates that 50% of the lottery’s revenue will be donated to charity. Since its inception, the revenue has grown every year.

 

Figures for 2017 Dutch Postcode Lottery

 logos 03 2,918,611 players Revenue €715 million
4,334,870 tickets To charities €357.5 million
6,802,960 prizes 1990-2017: €5.5 billion to charities
112 charities  

Television show

miljoenenjacht
Television show

Television continues to be an invaluable medium for the Dutch Postcode Lottery. As well as the awarding of prizes, the television programmes always feature one or more of our charities. To promote the recognisability of the lottery, the major prizes are presented by lottery ambassadors.

Dutch Postcode Lottery ambassadors

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The Dutch Postcode Lottery has a strong team of ambassadors who spread the word about the importance of the lottery and the good work of its beneficiaries. The ambassadors of the lottery include Dutch stars Caroline Tensen, Quinty Trustfull and Martijn Krabbé. Their television programs (more than 300 airings a year!) help to support our many charities and show lottery participants how the money is spent. We also spread this message through various forms of direct mail correspondence, our annual report, and free publicity.

Nicolette van DamNicolette van Dam
TV presenter

“I really do feel privileged: happy smiles on the winners’ faces, fantastic charities and a warm, welcoming company. Here’s to 50 years!”

Winston GerschtanowitzWinston Gerschtanowitz
actor and TV presenter

“The meaning of life is to give life a meaning’ could be the motto of the founders of the lottery. I’m happy to be part of an organisation that makes a difference in so many lives.”

Martijn KrabbeMartijn Krabbé
TV presenter

“They started with seven charities and now they support almost 100. I’m proud that I’m able to contribute to this.”

Gaston StarreveldGaston Starreveld
TV presenter

“I see happiness when we hand out prizes in the street. And I see happiness in the field about what the players have achieved with us. So much wealth in 27 years, literally and figuratively. Unforgettable.”

Quinty TrustfullQuinty Trustfull
TV presenter

“I’ve seen with my own eyes how a contribution from the lottery can literally make a world of difference. I’m a proud ambassador.”

Caroline TensenCaroline Tensen
TV presenter

“There’s still a lot to do. That’s why the Dutch Postcode Lottery can continue to count on me as a member of an enterprising family.”

Humberto TanHumberto Tan
TV presenter

“As ambassador of WWF and the Red Cross I have seen how important the support of the Postcode Lottery is.  By being a Postcode Lottery ambassador now I can contribute more to all causes working for green and more just world.”

Charities Dutch Postcode Lottery

Opbrengstenposter 2017 NPLThe Dutch Postcode Lottery provides long-term institutional support to organisations worldwide working in the areas of poverty alleviation, human rights, nature conservation, the environment and social cohesion in the Netherlands. Since the start in 1989, the Dutch Postcode Lottery has contributed € 5.5 billion to charity organisations.

112 charities received 357.5 million euros in 2017

Distribution:

Annual contribution to charities:  248.5 million euros
Extra projects: 47 million euros
One-off awards: 50 million euros
Dreamfund project: 12 million euros


pdfAllocations 2017 - Dutch Postcode Lottery (PDF)

Our organisation

The Dutch Postcode Lottery, the FriendsLottery and the BankGiro Lottery are part of the Holding Nationale Goede Doelen Loterijen N.V. The Supervisory Board of the Holding supervises the management of the holding company and entrusts to it the day-to-day running of the Dutch Charity Lotteries.

Bio’s Managing Directors of the Dutch Postcode Lottery

Marieke van Schaik, Imme Rog and Michiel Verboven are the Managing Directors of the Dutch Postcode Lottery.

Marieke van SchaikMarieke van Schaik (MD)
Daan PetersDaan Peters (MD)
Michiel VerbovenMichiel Verboven (MD)
 

Fifty percent to charity

50 percentFifty percent of the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s gross proceeds goes directly to various charities. With 2.9 million participants and a total of 4.3 million tickets in 2017, the Postcode Lottery gave more than 357.5 million euros to more than 112 charities working in the fields of conservation, environmental protection, developmental aid and human rights. They include the Clinton Foundation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam Netherlands, the World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International and Greenpeace.

 

Responsible Play

The Lottery wants to provide players and consumers with clear information so that they make an informed decision to play in our lotteries. The lottery also prevents participation by minors, and commits to responsible marketing activities and compliance with advertising codes.

 

License and External Auditing

Lottery licences in the Netherlands are granted by the Minister of Justice. The Ministry of Justice and the Dutch Gaming Control Board supervise the national gaming licences and compliance with the Act on Games of Chance. The Board also advises the Minister regarding changes in the rules and regulations, licence and licensees’ rules for participants and monitors the activities of all national legal gaming organisations in the Netherlands for this purpose.

The external auditing of the work of the Dutch Charity Lotteries is carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Netherlands Metrology Institute (NMI) and notary J.P. van Harseler. Accountants from PricewaterhouseCoopers audit the figures and its computer experts check the data processing of the members’ accounting records. The Netherlands Metrology Institute audits the processes regarding the fairness of the lottery. The notary Mr J.P. van Harseler of Amsterdam carries out the draw of the Dutch Charity Lotteries.