Omaze launched in Los Angeles, USA, in July 2012 and was founded by two Stanford graduates. It began with charity-linked sweepstakes for celebrity and “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences, like meet-and-greets and set visits. TechCrunch describes early campaigns such as chances to meet “Star Wars” cast members or visit the set of “Star Trek Beyond.”
In the US, Omaze later added bigger physical prizes like luxury items and trips. In the UK, the business shifted focus to house draws from 2020 onward, and it’s now often discussed alongside other major UK prize draws, including newer entrants like Win A Million.
What is Omaze UK?
Omaze UK is a separate company incorporated in June 2019. It launched major operations in 2020. The UK model was houses-first from the start. Its main product is the “Omaze Million Pound House Draw.”
The draws run back-to-back. Each one is open for a set period, then closes and a winner is chosen. Every draw partners with a UK charity. Each charity gets a guaranteed minimum donation. A fixed share of ticket sales is reported to go to the featured charity.
Which charities?
Omaze UK works with rotating charity partners. Recent partnerships include:
Teenage Cancer Trust. First UK partner in 2020 and a repeat partner, including a 2025 draw.
Anthony Nolan. Featured partner for a 2025 house draw with a guaranteed £1 million donation.
Omaze have also had past partners such as NHS Charities Together, RNLI, The Prince’s Trust, British Heart Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, RSPCA, and NSPCC.
How does Omaze UK work?
Omaze UK runs one house draw after another. Each draw is live for several weeks. It then closes on a stated date. A winner is picked on the stated draw date. There is always a guaranteed winner, so nothing rolls over. Winners are chosen using an independently certified random number generator.
You can enter online by buying entry bundles or subscribing monthly. You can also enter for free by post. Every draw supports a UK charity. Each draw guarantees at least £1 million to the charity. Charities are said to receive about 17% of ticket sales.
Main draw and Early Bird
When you enter, you are in the main house draw. Your entries stay in the pool until it closes.
If you enter before the Early Bird deadline, those same entries also go into an Early Bird draw. The Early Bird prize is usually a car or a large cash prize, so early entry can feel a bit like a bonus win a car competition running alongside the main campaign.
The Early Bird winner is picked after the cut-off date. Winning Early Bird does not remove you from the main draw. The house draw continues to its final close. Then a separate winner is picked for the house and main cash prize.
If there are multiple Early Bird deadlines, the rule is the same. Enter before the deadline and you are in that Early Bird draw too.
What are the prizes?
Main prize (every draw)
One grand-prize winner gets the featured luxury house. The house is awarded mortgage-free. The winner also receives a cash amount to help with bills and running costs.
Early Bird prize (most draws)
Enter before the Early Bird deadline and you are also in an extra prize draw. The prize is often a car or a big cash award. Early Bird winners are picked before the main draw closes. Winning Early Bird does not remove you from the main draw.
Weekly cash prizes (some draws)
While a house draw is live, Omaze UK may also run weekly cash draws for entrants. These are smaller prizes alongside the main campaign and resemble the kind of side rewards people look for in wider cash prize competitions.
Monthly Millionaire (separate product)
This is a separate recurring cash draw. It guarantees one £1,000,000 winner every month.
How much does it cost to enter?
Omaze UK sells entries in bundles, meaning a one-off pack of multiple entries for one specific live draw. For House Draws, bundles typically cost £10, £25, £50, or £150. Each price gives more entries into the draw you choose. Early Bird is included automatically if you enter before its deadline.
The draw for the Monthly Millionaire is separate. It has its own bundles, and entry usually starts from about £10 in the same bundle format, unless you enter via subscription or free post.
Is Omaze legit?
Omaze is a legitimate company that has awarded real prizes and published real UK winners. In the UK it runs legal prize draws with a guaranteed winner picked by an independently certified random number generator, and every draw has a free postal entry route. Each house draw partners with a UK charity and guarantees a minimum £1 million donation.
So while entering doesn’t guarantee you’ll win money, Omaze UK is a real, regulated operator with a clear charity-linked model and publicly documented winners.