Omaze has turned property prize draws into a mainstream consumer product in the UK. A dream home, fully furnished, tax-free, with a charitable purpose attached. The formula has attracted enormous consumer interest — and some scrutiny. Here is how it actually works.
The Omaze Model
Omaze operates a straightforward loop: acquire a high-value property, partner with a charity, sell entries to a prize draw for the property, give the property to a winner, and distribute a portion of revenue to the charity partner.
The properties are typically valued between £1 million and £3 million. They are fully furnished and located across desirable UK locations — Lake District retreats, Cotswolds estates, seaside homes. The presentation is aspirational by design: professional photography, video tours, lifestyle framing.
Omaze scores 8.2/10 on Prize Wise. It is a UKGC Voluntary Code signatory with a 4.5-star Trustpilot rating. These are strong fundamentals.
The Charity Angle
Every Omaze draw partners with a registered UK charity. Past partners have included the RSPCA, British Heart Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, and others. A portion of ticket revenue goes to the charity — Omaze states that over £50 million has been raised for good causes to date.
It is important to understand the structure: Omaze is a commercial company, not a charity. The charitable donations are part of its business model, not its legal purpose. This distinguishes it from UKGC-licensed society lotteries like People's Postcode Lottery, which have statutory charitable return obligations.
The Lotteries Council has raised concerns about this distinction, arguing that consumers may not realise Omaze is a commercial operation. Prize Wise covers this regulatory tension in detail on our Charitable & Society Lotteries page.
Entry Costs and Odds
Omaze entry prices vary by draw but typically range from £10 for a small bundle to £25+ for larger entry packages. Volume-based pricing means the per-entry cost decreases with larger purchases.
Odds depend on the total number of entries sold, which Omaze does not publish in advance. This is one area where Omaze receives lower marks than BOTB, which benefits from more transparent, bounded draw sizes. The UKGC Voluntary Code encourages odds transparency, and while Omaze is a signatory, the nature of their draw format (open-ended entry period) makes fixed odds difficult to communicate.
For context: Omaze draws attract very high entry volumes. The probability of winning a specific house draw is low — likely significantly lower than most people intuitively estimate.
What Winners Receive
Winners receive:
- The property itself, fully furnished
- Stamp Duty Land Tax paid by Omaze
- Legal conveyancing costs covered
- Typically 12 months of council tax pre-paid
The property transfer follows a standard legal conveyance process, usually completing within 8-16 weeks of the draw. Winners can choose to live in the property, sell it, or rent it out.
Tax position: the property is received tax-free. No income tax, no stamp duty (Omaze covers this), no immediate capital gains. However, if the winner sells the property and it is not their principal private residence, CGT may apply on any gain. See our guide to prize draw tax for full details.
Free Entry
As a UKGC Code signatory, Omaze offers a free postal entry route. Write your name, address, and the specific draw you wish to enter on a postcard, and post it to their registered address before the closing date.
Your free entry carries identical odds to any paid entry. This is a legal requirement, not a courtesy. Step-by-step instructions are in our Free Entry Guide.
Alternatives to Omaze
Omaze is not the only operator offering property-related prizes, though it dominates the category:
- MyHome Competitions — focuses on property prizes at a smaller scale
- 7 Days Performance (6.6/10) — includes property draws alongside car prizes
- Various charity-specific draws — some hospital and hospice charities run property prize draws independently
No other operator matches Omaze's scale or brand recognition in the property prize draw space. For consumers specifically seeking house competitions, Omaze is the default — and its Prize Wise score of 8.2/10 supports that position.
Should You Enter?
Omaze is a credible, well-established operator with strong compliance credentials. The charitable model adds social value. The prizes are genuinely extraordinary.
The considerations are practical: entry costs add up if you enter regularly, odds are not published in advance, and the charitable framing can create expectations about revenue distribution that may not match the commercial reality.
Enter with open eyes, and consider the free postal route if you want to participate without cost.
Full review: Omaze operator review · Charitable vs commercial draws