Quick answer: Competition terms are the contract between you and the operator, and seven clauses do most of the work: eligibility, the free entry route, closing and draw dates, the prize description, extension and cancellation rules, the notification window, and account and data rules. Note that this is not legal advice.
Key takeaways
- The terms decide whether your entry counts, exactly what the prize is, and what happens if a draw changes or is cancelled.
- Seven clauses carry most of the weight: eligibility, free entry, dates, prize description, extension and cancellation, notification, and account rules.
- If a clause is unclear, missing or contradicts the advert, ask the operator before entering, and treat silence as a reason to walk away.
Read a real set before you start: MrRaffle's competition terms cover every draw on the site, and new players can claim free tickets once they know the rules.
Why do competition terms matter?
The terms are the contract between you and the operator: they set out what the operator promises, what you must do for an entry to count, and what happens if something changes. If a dispute arises, the published terms are what both sides are measured against. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
That sounds formal, but it has an everyday value. Almost every disappointing competition story starts with something the terms already covered: an entry that did not follow the rules, a claim made after a deadline, or an eligibility check a winner could not pass. Reading the seven clauses that matter takes five minutes, and it is cheaper than discovering them after the draw.
Which clauses should you check first?
Seven clauses carry most of the weight: eligibility, the free entry route, the closing and draw dates, the prize description and any cash alternative, extension and cancellation rules, the notification window for winners, and the account and data rules that decide how you enter and how your details are used.
| Clause | What it decides | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Who can enter, usually UK residents aged 18 or over, with proof at the winner checks | Check you qualify before entering |
| Free entry route | How to enter without paying on paid chance based draws, usually by post | Follow the postal instructions exactly |
| Closing and draw dates | When entries close and when the draw runs | Note both dates and do not leave entries late |
| Prize description | Exactly what can be won, including model, specification and any cash alternative | Read the full prize list, not just the headline |
| Extension and cancellation | What happens if the draw cannot run as planned | Know whether an extension or refund applies |
| Notification window | How winners are contacted and how long they have to respond | Keep the contact details on your entry current |
| Account and data | The rules for your account, entry caps, and how your data is used | Respect the caps and know the house rules |
That table is the short version of any set of terms. If you read nothing else, read an operator's wording on these seven and you will know your position on almost everything that can happen.
What do extension and cancellation clauses mean?
They set out what happens if a draw cannot run as planned: the operator may extend the closing date so more entries arrive, or cancel the draw and return entry money where the terms say so. The specific competition's own clause governs.
Two models exist, and the terms tell you which one you are entering. A draw that runs whatever happens goes ahead on the published date, so the prizes are paid out even if entries fall short. A flexible draw may be extended, sometimes more than once, or cancelled with refunds, as the terms set out. Neither model is unfair on its own, and neither is universal: what matters is that you know which applies before you enter. The full mechanics sit in our guide to what happens if a competition does not sell out.
What does the notification window say?
It says how winners are contacted and how long they have to respond: usually by email or account message using the details on the entry, within a set window, after which the operator may pass the prize to a reserve winner.
Practical rules follow. Use contact details you actually check, including the email address and phone number on your account. Watch the window stated in the terms rather than assuming a habit from other sites, because windows differ. And keep the golden rule of prize communication close, whichever terms apply: winners never pay a fee to receive a prize. Any message asking for money to release a win is a scam, whatever it claims to be.
What do the rules say about multiple entries?
They set the cap: how many entries one person, household or account may have in a draw, and what happens if you exceed it, which is usually that extra entries are voided or the entry is disqualified at the winner checks.
Caps exist to keep draws fair and pools predictable, and they are enforced when a winner is verified. The wording matters: some competitions void only the entries over the cap, while others void everything submitted once the cap is passed. If the terms allow one entry per person, buying extra entries in someone else's name is not a loophole, it is a way to lose them all. Where a free postal route exists, the same caps usually apply to it, so send one entry per envelope and check the per person limit before posting.
Practise the check without spending: the free daily games run on the same rules in miniature.
Where are MrRaffle's terms?
MrRaffle publishes its competition terms on the site, covering entry routes, eligibility, closing dates, the free postal route, prize lists for each game and how results are settled. They are checkable before you spend anything, and they are the version a dispute is measured against.
The terms page is the single source for every draw, and each game page carries its own prize table and remaining counts. Together they answer the seven-clause check above: what you can win, how to enter for free or by paying, when games close, and how winners are told. If the terms ever disagree with what a promotion claims, treat the terms as the baseline and the disagreement as a stop signal, then ask the operator to explain it in writing.
If the seven checks pass on this site too, claim free tickets and start with the free route before you decide anything about paid entries.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to read the full terms before entering a competition?
Read the seven clauses that do the work: eligibility, free entry, dates, prize description, extension and cancellation, notification, and account rules. That covers most of what decides whether an entry counts and what a winner receives.
What happens if you break a competition rule?
It depends on the clause and the breach. Common outcomes are that extra entries over a cap are voided, or that an entry failing eligibility checks is disqualified before a prize is released. The terms state which consequence applies.
Are competition terms legally binding in the UK?
They form the agreement between you and the operator, and consumer law sits alongside them; our explainer on whether prize competitions are legal in the UK covers the wider framework. The published terms are the basis the deal is measured against, which is why operators publish them before entry opens. This is not legal advice.
What is a cash alternative?
A clause offering a fixed cash amount instead of a physical prize, such as a car, where the terms include one. The winner chooses one or the other, usually within a set window, and the amount is stated in the terms.
What should you do if a term seems unclear?
Ask the operator to explain it in writing before you enter. If the answer does not satisfy you, walk away: there are more competitions than any one person can enter, and an unclear term is a cheap reason to keep your money.
Sources
- MrRaffle Competition Terms and Conditions, MrRaffle, accessed 7 October 2026
- Promotional marketing: Free entry routes, ASA and CAP, accessed 7 October 2026
- CAP Code, Section 8: Promotional marketing, ASA and CAP, accessed 7 October 2026
- Voluntary code of good practice for prize draw operators, DCMS, accessed 7 October 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.
Put the reading into practice: check the competition terms, see why competitions have skill questions for one clause in action, or claim free tickets and start with a free play.
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