Quick answer: A legitimate UK prize competition passes 10 checks before you pay: a named company with a real address, full terms, a fixed closing date, a stated entry cap or odds, a clear free entry route, a stated draw method, published winners, an exact prize description, secure payment, and no fee to claim. Failing several is a red flag.
Key takeaways
- Check the promoter on Companies House: the name and address in the terms should match a real, active company.
- Genuine prize draws publish a free entry route, full terms, a closing date and winner details.
- Never pay a fee, share a passcode or click a direct-message link to claim a prize. That is the most common sign of a scam.
Want to see what a published prize list and a free entry route look like? Every MrRaffle game shows its full prize list and how many of each prize are left, and new players can claim free tickets.
Is this competition legit? The 10-point checklist
Run these 10 checks before you enter. A legitimate operator makes each one easy to find, usually in the site footer and the terms. A scam, or a badly run competition, typically fails several at once: no company details, vague terms, no entry cap and pressure to pay quickly.
| # | Check | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who runs it | Company name, address and number that match Companies House | No company details anywhere |
| 2 | Terms and conditions | Full terms you can read before paying | Terms missing, vague or "available on request" |
| 3 | Closing date | A fixed date and time | No end date, or dates that keep moving |
| 4 | Entry cap or odds | Maximum number of entries, or odds per prize | No cap, so your chance cannot be known |
| 5 | Free entry route | Explained clearly and prominently, same chance as paying | Hidden, harder to use, or drawn separately |
| 6 | Draw method | How, when and where winners are chosen | "Winner picked by the admin" |
| 7 | Winners | Published or available on request | No winners list, or only stock photos |
| 8 | Prize details | Exact model or specification, any cash alternative, delivery timing | Vague prize, or it changes after you enter |
| 9 | Payment | Secure checkout and 18+ checks | Bank transfer to a personal account, or gift cards |
| 10 | Claiming | No cost to claim | A "release", delivery or admin fee |
Failing a check does not always mean a scam; it may just be badly run. Either way, walk away.
How do you check who runs a competition?
Find the promoter's full name and address in the terms or site footer, then search the company on Companies House, the free government register. It should be active, and its registered name and address should match. The CAP Code requires promoters to state their full name and address unless it is obvious from the context or easy to find on the dedicated entry website.
On the record, check the status is "Active", the registered office matches the terms, and the officers and filing history look normal. One limit: Companies House says it does not check the accuracy of what is filed, so a match proves the company exists, not that its competitions are fair.
What should a competition's terms and conditions include?
Under the ASA's CAP Code, the key conditions must be available before you enter: how to take part and what it costs, any free entry route, the closing date, the number and nature of prizes, any cash alternative, limits on entries, who can enter, how winners are told, and the delivery date if it is later than 30 days.
These come from CAP rules 8.17 and 8.28, and rule 8.23 adds that rules must not be too complex and should only exceptionally change mid-promotion. For paid prize draws, check the free route closely: the Gambling Act 2005 requires it to be publicised and treated the same as paid entries. Our guide to free postal entry competitions shows what a proper one looks like.
How are winners chosen and published?
In a prize draw, the CAP Code says winners must be picked by chance, either by a computer process that produces verifiably random results or by, or under the supervision of, an independent person. Promoters must also publish or make available the surname and county of major winners, and give them to the ASA if asked.
For instant wins, CAP rule 8.25 says players must know immediately what they have won and how to claim it. On the site, look for a clear explanation of how each type of draw works and a winners list, even if names are shortened for privacy.
What are the warning signs of a competition scam?
The biggest warning sign is being asked to pay to receive a prize. The CAP Code, reflecting consumer law, bans falsely telling people they have won if they must pay to claim. Other red flags: messages from unofficial accounts, links to lookalike sites, pressure to act fast, missing terms, and requests for bank logins, one-time passcodes or gift cards.
Signs of a badly run competition rather than fraud: closing dates that keep moving, prizes that shrink, no entry cap, and a free route that is hard to find or impossible to use in time.
How do you spot fake competitions on social media?
Fake giveaways copy a real brand's name, logo and photos onto a new page, then message people who comment to say they have won. Check that the account is the brand's official one (linked from its website), that the post links to terms naming the promoter, and that any "winner" message comes from that same verified account.
The ASA's advice says a social media prize draw should state its significant conditions in the first post, link to full terms, and keep those terms unchanged. Reach the account through the brand's own website, and never share a one-time passcode to "verify your win".
What does the DCMS code expect from prize draw operators?
The Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators, published by DCMS on 20 November 2025, sets standards signatories agreed to meet by 20 May 2026. It is not law, but it is a useful benchmark: 18+ only, spend limits, a £250 monthly credit card cap, no credit cards for instant wins, and clear odds and free entry information.
It also expects a proper complaints process, account suspension of at least 6 months on request, and no reduced prizes, moved end dates or cancelled draws because of low sales. The signatory list is on GOV.UK. Signing is voluntary, so not signing is not unlawful, but the code shows what good practice looks like. For the legal background, see our guide to raffle vs prize draw vs lottery.
How does MrRaffle measure up?
Use the same checklist on us. MrRaffle is run by True Haven Group Ltd, company number 16782179, registered at 167-169 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PF, and you can check that record on Companies House. Our full competition terms are published, including the free postal entry route, and winners are listed on our winners page.
Each game shows its prize list and how many of each prize are left before you play, and how it works explains the mechanics. Our terms also say a competition will not be cancelled or changed because of a lack of entries. Withdrawing cash winnings requires an identity check, a normal step for a legitimate operator.
What should you do if you think you have been scammed?
Stop all contact, do not send more money, and call your bank on the number on your card if you shared payment details. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report fraud to Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. Forward scam emails to [email protected] and scam texts to 7726.
If the competition is real but was run unfairly, complain to the promoter first, then to the Advertising Standards Authority. For DCMS code signatories, concerns can also go to [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Are paid prize competitions legal in the UK?
Yes, when they are set up correctly. In Great Britain, a paid prize draw is legal if it offers a genuine free entry route that is treated the same as paid entries, and a paid competition is legal if it needs real skill, judgement or knowledge. Otherwise it risks being an illegal lottery.
Should I ever pay to claim a prize?
No. Paying to receive a prize you have supposedly won is the classic scam pattern, and the CAP Code bans falsely telling people they have won when they must pay to claim. A genuine promoter may ask for an identity check before paying out cash, but never a release, delivery or admin fee.
Can a competition extend its closing date?
Only in limited cases. The CAP Code says closing dates must not change unless unavoidable circumstances beyond the promoter's control make it necessary, and entrants are not disadvantaged. The DCMS voluntary code goes further for signatories: they should not change a draw's end date or cut the prize because of low ticket sales.
Who do I complain to about a prize competition?
Start with the promoter's own complaints process. If the problem is misleading advertising or an unfairly run promotion, you can complain to the Advertising Standards Authority. Citizens Advice can help with consumer problems, and fraud should be reported to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland if you live in Scotland.
Sources
- Companies House: TRUE HAVEN GROUP LTD (16782179), accessed 24 September 2026
- CAP Code Section 8: Promotional marketing (rules 8.17, 8.21.1, 8.23, 8.24, 8.25, 8.28), accessed 24 September 2026
- ASA: Promotional marketing, prize draws in social media, accessed 24 September 2026
- ASA: Make a complaint, accessed 24 September 2026
- DCMS: Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators, accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Act 2005, Schedule 2 (payment to enter and free entry), accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Commission: Free draws and prize competitions, accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Commission: Raffling a house or car (complaints and consumer rights), accessed 24 September 2026
- NCSC: Report a scam email (includes Report Fraud contact details), accessed 24 September 2026
- NCSC: Report a scam text, 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.
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