Originally known as the People's Choice Community Lottery, the People First Community Lottery gives local sporting clubs, schools, charities, volunteer groups and other not-for-profit community groups around Australia the opportunity to raise funds and achieve fundraising goals. The Community Lottery has helped to raise more than $22 million for community groups since its inception in 1984.

As you may know, People's Choice recently merged with a like-minded banking organisation, Heritage Bank. One of the benefits of this merger is that we're able to make the Community Lottery bigger and better than ever before. This year will be the 42nd year of the Community Lottery!

As you may know, People's Choice recently merged with a like-minded banking organisation, Heritage Bank.  Combined we are now 'People First Bank', a national mutual that presents a compelling alternative to the listed banks. This is a fresh new brand that builds on our past, reflects the deep roots and values of both organisations, and is underpinned by the feedback from our people and members who told us they wanted us to continue to put people first. Find out more here.

The key days for the 2026 People First Community Lottery are:

Ticket sales open: Thursday 2 July, 12pm (ACST)

Early bird close: Thursday 30 July, 11:59pm (ACST)

Early bird draw: Thursday 6 August, 11am (ACST) 

Ticket sales close: Thursday 8 October, 11:59pm (ACDT)

Final draw: Thursday 15 October, 11am (ACDT)

There were 700,000 tickets available for sale at $2 per ticket in the 2026 People First Community Lottery.

Safe and contactless fundraising for our groups, 24/7. Quick and easy ticket purchasing and ticket bundles are available for bulk ticket purchases - saving time and better for the environment than paper tickets.

Your Community Lottery ticket numbers and information are sent to the email address provided when you purchase your tickets online.

If you can’t find the email with your tickets after purchasing, please check your Junk Mail before contacting us.

Our Community Lottery team can resend your tickets to the email you supplied when you purchased them. You will need to contact us with your name and email address so we can find the tickets and resend them. 

Yes! If you buy tickets before the Early Bird ticket closing date (11:59pm ACST 30 July 2026), you'll automatically go into the draw for a chance to win our Early Bird prize. Once the Early Bird prize is won, all tickets go into the main draw for a chance to win a prize.

Both Community Lottery draws are conducted on Level 13, 50 Flinders Street, Adelaide. 

The Early Bird prize draw is on 6 August 2026 and the Main prize draw is on 15 October 2026.

The Community Lottery team will notify all prize winners within 4 days after each draw.

For full list of key dates, click here.

All prize winning ticket numbers will also be published on the website and The Australian 7 days after the prize draws.

To view the winners, click here.

No, because your ticket purchase provides you with the potential for personal benefit (winning a prize), it isn't tax deductible. However, every ticket you purchase helps provide much needed funds to a very worthy community group. 

The key days for the 2026 People First Community Lottery are:

Ticket sales open: Thursday 2 July, 12pm (ACST)

Early bird close: Thursday 30 July, 11:59pm (ACST)

Early bird draw: Thursday 6 August, 11am (ACST)

Ticket sales close: Thursday 8 October, 11:59pm (ACDT)

Final draw: Thursday 15 October, 11am (ACDT)

Funds raised by your group will be deposited within 90 days of the final draw.

There are 41 prizes on offer for the People First Community Lottery, worth more than $300,000.

Our Early Bird prize is a Toyota Corolla Hybrid Ascent Sport Hatch (RRP $35,939). First prize in the main draw is a Toyota Kluger Hybrid GX AWD Wagon (RRP $67,451). Second prize is a Toyota Yaris Hybrid Ascent Sport Hatch (RRP $32,691). Third prize is a Northern Lights and Rhine River Delights Cruise Package (RRP $31,980).

Visit our prize list to check out our full list of prizes.

You can view the full terms of the Northern Lights and Rhine River Delights Cruise Package here.