Quick answer: In a legitimate instant win game, two things are fixed before it opens: the number of tickets and the full prize list. Which ticket gets which prize is decided at random when each ticket is bought. Not all tickets win, and if a game closes before selling out, some prizes, even the top one, can go unwon.
Key takeaways
- "Fixed" in the honest sense means the ticket count, the prize list and therefore the odds are set before the game opens. It does not mean anyone picks the winners.
- Prizes on tickets that never sell are retired with them when a game closes. A headline prize can go unwon, and a good operator says so in its terms.
- You can check any site yourself: a published prize list, full terms, a free entry route, a winners list and a company you can look up.
Want to see a fixed prize list for yourself? Browse MrRaffle's instant win games, or claim free tickets to try one without spending.
Are instant win competitions fixed?
Not in the way people worry about. In a legitimate game, nobody chooses who wins. What is fixed is the setup: how many tickets exist, which prizes exist and so the odds of each prize. Those are decided before the game opens and stay the same while it runs. Which ticket lands on which prize is random.
You cannot inspect an operator's systems from outside, but you can check how much it publishes and whether its terms answer the awkward questions.
How does an instant win ticket pool work?
Think of a sealed box holding a set number of tickets, some with prizes attached. Each time someone buys a ticket, an outcome is allocated at random from what is left in the box, and the game reveals it. The box is filled once, before the game opens, according to a published prize list.
Here is a made-up pool of 10,000 tickets:
| Outcome (made-up example) | Tickets in the pool | Odds per ticket |
|---|---|---|
| £500 cash | 1 | 1 in 10,000 |
| £20 cash | 10 | 1 in 1,000 |
| £1 site credit | 400 | 1 in 25 |
| 10 jackpot tickets | 1,000 | 1 in 10 |
| No prize | 8,589 |
Here 1,411 tickets win something, but only 11 of those wins are cash. MrRaffle games work the same way: not all tickets win, and cash is a minority of wins, with most of the rest being site credit, free tickets or jackpot tickets.
The result is set the moment you buy. The scratch, spin, flip or ball drop you watch afterwards is presentation. Our guide on how online scratch cards work explains why a "near miss" on screen means nothing.
What does "fixed" mean, and what does it not mean?
"Fixed" can mean two very different things. A ticket count, prize list and odds fixed in advance is a good thing: it is what makes the odds knowable. Winners being chosen, or outcomes being changed after the fact, would be rigging. A legitimate game has the first and not the second.
| Fixed before the game opens | Not fixed |
|---|---|
| The number of tickets | Which ticket gets which prize |
| Every prize, and how many of each | Who buys the winning tickets |
| The odds of each prize tier | When during the game a prize lands |
| The closing time | Whether every prize is won, which depends on sales |
Can an instant win prize go unwon?
Yes. If a game closes before all its tickets are sold, the unsold tickets are retired, and any prizes attached to them are not won. That can include the headline prize. It follows directly from the fixed pool: prizes sit on tickets, and a ticket nobody buys cannot win anything.
A game closes at a set time or when its tickets run out. The top prize might land on the first ticket sold, in the middle, or on a ticket that is never bought, and nobody can know in advance because allocation happens at random as tickets are bought. Prizes on retired tickets are not shared out among other buyers.
What to do about it:
- Read the terms for what happens when a game closes.
- Treat the headline prize as possible, not promised. The UK advertising code for promotions expects promoters to make clear which prizes could be won and which will definitely be won.
- Judge a game on the odds of the prize you want, not the size of the headline.
End-prize draws differ: a winner is usually picked from tickets sold, as our guide to low odds competitions explains.
Do people ever win instant win games?
Yes. Every prize on a ticket that sells goes to the person who bought it, so as a game sells, its prizes are won. But most tickets win nothing or a small prize, and cash is a minority of wins. Headline prizes are rare by design, often a single ticket in the whole pool.
You do not have to take an operator's word for it. UK advertising rules say promoters must publish or make available information showing a valid award took place, ordinarily the surname and county of major prizewinners. Winners can object to publication, but the details must still go to the Advertising Standards Authority if challenged.
MrRaffle lists wins on its winners page.
Are instant win competitions legit?
Instant win competitions can run legally in the UK without a gambling licence when they offer a genuine free entry route, because a free draw is not a lottery in law. The Gambling Commission does not approve or license them, so legitimacy depends on how each site is run, which you can check.
The Gambling Commission's rules for a free draw with a paid route are clear: people must be able to take part without paying, the free route (first or second class post counts) must be no more expensive and no less convenient, and the system that decides prizes should treat both routes the same. A draw that fails may be an illegal lottery.
Since 20 May 2026, operators who sign the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's voluntary code of good practice are also expected to limit play to over-18s, publicise the free entry route before purchase, explain how each draw works, and award prizes fairly in line with their rules.
A six-point check for any site:
- A prize list with numbers. Every prize, how many of each, and the odds or ticket count.
- Full terms. Including what happens when a game closes and how prizes are paid.
- A usable free entry route. An address, a closing date and clear instructions.
- A winners list. Surname and county, or first name and initial, for major prizes.
- A company you can look up. A registered company name and address you can check on Companies House.
- 18+ and responsible play tools. Age checks, spending limits and a way to take a break.
MrRaffle is operated by True Haven Group Ltd, and its free postal route is set out in the competition terms: first or second class post, one entry per envelope, arriving before the closing date. See free postal entry competitions for the details and how to spot a legit prize competition for more warning signs.
What is the easiest competition to win?
The easiest competition to win is the one with the fewest tickets per prize, for the prize you actually want. In instant win games, small prizes are far easier to win than headline ones: in the example pool above, 10 jackpot tickets were 1 in 10 while the £500 cash prize was 1 in 10,000.
So compare the same prize tier across games, check whether it is cash or credit, and set a budget first.
Frequently asked questions
Can the operator choose who wins an instant win prize?
In a legitimate game, no. The prize list is set before the game opens, and each ticket's outcome is allocated at random at the moment it is bought, whether the entry was paid or free. Nobody hand-picks winners, and the prize list stays the same while the game runs.
Does a free postal entry have the same chance as a paid ticket?
It should. The Gambling Commission says the system that determines prizes should not recognise free and paid routes as different, and the DCMS voluntary code says both should have an equal chance. At MrRaffle, a valid free entry to an instant win game is allocated an entry number by random number generator.
Why did I win site credit instead of cash?
Because most prizes in a typical instant win pool are not cash. Prize lists usually mix a small number of cash prizes with site credit, free tickets and jackpot tickets. Check the full prize list before you play, and look at the odds of cash prizes specifically if cash is what you want.
Does a near miss mean a win is coming?
No. The outcome of each ticket is decided when it is bought, before any animation plays, so a near miss on screen is just how a losing ticket is shown. Losing several tickets in a row does not make you due a win either. If you notice yourself chasing, stop and take a break.
Who regulates instant win competitions in the UK?
No single regulator licenses them. The Gambling Commission polices the line between free draws and illegal lotteries, the Advertising Standards Authority enforces the advertising codes, consumer protection law applies, and DCMS oversees a voluntary code of good practice that operators can sign up to.
Sources
- Free draws and prize competitions, Gambling Commission, accessed 24 September 2026
- Prize competitions and free draws: the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005, Gambling Commission, accessed 24 September 2026
- Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators, DCMS, accessed 24 September 2026
- CAP Code, Section 8: Promotional marketing, ASA and CAP, accessed 24 September 2026
- Find and update company information, Companies House, accessed 24 September 2026
- MrRaffle Competition Terms, accessed 24 September 2026
Play responsibly
MrRaffle is for UK residents aged 18 and over. Only play with money you can afford to spend, set a budget before you start, and take a break if it stops being fun.
Every MrRaffle instant win game has a fixed number of tickets and a fixed prize list set before it opens, from 10p based on the game. New players can claim free tickets or start with the free daily games, and the welcome offer on a first deposit is a 25% deposit bonus + 10 free tickets (terms apply).
Ready to play?
Browse live instant win games and prize draws across the platform.