Ten Mistakes New Compers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Quick answer: New compers lose entries and money to ten avoidable mistakes: entering prizes you would never use, ignoring free entry routes, spending without a monthly budget, and letting duplicate entries void everything. The fixes take minutes: read the terms, log closing dates, respect entry caps, and never pay a fee to claim a prize.

Key takeaways

Most voided entries trace back to three terms details: eligibility, entry caps and the closing date, and all three are stated on the competition page.
Two mistakes cost real money: entering without a monthly budget, and paying any kind of fee to release a prize, which genuine operators never ask for.
A simple tracker with the prize, the closing date and the cost turns comping from a scramble into a system that takes minutes a week.

Start with entries that cost nothing and odds you can see: new MrRaffle players can claim free tickets, and the free daily games are a no-spend way to learn how draws and instant wins work.

Why do new compers burn out?

New compers burn out because enthusiasm meets a long grind: wins are rare, entries are often not tracked, and spend drifts upward once a hobby becomes a habit. The fix is structure, and ten specific mistakes cover almost everything that goes wrong in a first year.

Entering hype prizes you would never use. The fix: before entering, check the prize is something you would still value in six months.
Skipping the terms. The fix: read the eligibility, entry cap and closing date once, then enter or move on.
Ignoring the free route. The fix: on paid chance draws, send the free postal entry where one is offered; it counts as an entry with the same chance as any other.
Spending without a budget. The fix: pick a monthly number before the month starts and track it as you go.
Duplicate entries that void the lot. The fix: find the entry cap and respect it; where the rule allows one entry, send one.
Letting auto entries run against the rules. The fix: review subscription and auto-entry settings against the cap and your budget monthly.
Missing closing dates. The fix: log every closing date the moment you enter, and never rely on memory.
Falling for prize fee scams. The fix: treat any request for a fee, card details or bank details to release a prize as fraud.
Botching skill questions. The fix: answer slowly, check spelling, and follow the format the terms ask for.
Never tracking what you entered. The fix: keep one list with three columns: prize, closing date, cost.

For the full picture, our beginner guide to comping sets out the basics in the same order.

Which terms mistakes void entries?

Three terms mistakes void entries most often: entering when you are not eligible, exceeding the entry cap, and submitting after the closing date. Each rule is explicit, and the penalty is disqualification rather than a warning, so five minutes with the terms is the highest-value time in comping.

Eligibility. MrRaffle competitions are for UK residents aged 18 and over; an entry that breaks an age or location rule is void. Check the rule on every site, because they differ.
Entry caps. Caps are usually written as one entry per person, per household or per account. Sending more than the cap allows can void the excess, and on some competitions it voids every entry from that person.
Closing dates. A closing date and time is a hard stop: entries received after it do not count, which is why the date goes straight into your tracker.
Skill questions. Where a competition asks a question, a wrong answer can void the entry; our explainer on why competitions have skill questions explains how they work.
Free route format. Postal entries have their own rules: one entry per envelope, the details the terms ask for, and the right address, or the stamp is wasted.

What budget mistakes should you avoid?

The big budget mistake is starting without a number: when entries cost anywhere from a few pence to a few pounds each, a casual month of comping costs far more than most people estimate. Decide a monthly spend before you enter anything, write it down, and treat it as the ceiling.

Track weekly. A monthly total surprises people; a weekly check catches drift while it is still small.
Free first. Free daily games, free tickets and postal routes keep the cost low while you learn what you enjoy.
Review, do not chase. If a month runs over, reduce the next month rather than trying to win it back; chasing is the most expensive habit in comping.
Take scheduled breaks. A planned pause resets the habit, and our guide to setting limits and taking a break walks through the practical steps.

For a deeper look at how many entries make sense, how many competitions should you enter works through the trade-offs.

If you would rather start on the lowest-cost rung, MrRaffle's free daily games reset every day, every game shows its prize list, and new players can claim free tickets before spending a penny.

How do scams catch new compers?

Scams target new compers with three plays: a message about a win you never entered, a fee or card detail request to release a prize, and clone pages that copy the site you use. Genuine operators never ask winners for money, and results are checked on the site itself, never through an unexpected link.

The unexpected message. A text, email or call about a prize from a competition you cannot place is a red flag. Verify by logging in to the site yourself.
The release fee. No genuine operator asks for payment, card numbers or bank details to hand over a prize. Any request like that is fraud; our legit competition checklist covers the rest.
The clone page. Links in messages can lead to a copy of a real site built to collect logins. Type the address yourself before entering any details.
The urgency. Pressure to act fast, pay now or lose the prize is a tactic, not a rule of winning. Real claims have written processes and deadlines that you can verify.

What habits keep entries organised?

Five habits keep a comping log useful: record the prize, the closing date and the cost when you enter; use one email address for entries; check the terms before every new site; answer skill questions immediately; and review the log weekly. Ten minutes a week beats any complicated system.

Pick one inbox. Use a single email address for comping so nothing gets lost.
Log three fields. Prize, closing date, cost. If a fourth helps, add the site name.
Review weekly. Check what closes next, what has been drawn, and what the month has cost so far.
Close the loop. When a competition ends, mark the result so your log stays a record rather than a wish list.

The habits that win most often are the boring ones; our guide to how to win competitions collects them in one place.

If organised comping appeals, start where the odds are published: browse instant win games, try the free daily games, or claim free tickets as a new player and check a prize list before you spend anything.

When should you walk away from a competition?

Walk away when any of three red flags appears: the terms are unclear about the prize, the entry price has grown beyond your monthly number, or playing has stopped being fun. Comping should be a hobby with a fixed cost, and a competition that pressures you past either limit is not worth entering.

Unclear terms. If the prize, the draw date or the free route is not clear, the safest move is to skip it.
Budget creep. When a small entry needs a mental justification, the habit has moved past the plan: pause and reset the number.
Fun gone. Hobbies should recharge you. If comping feels like an obligation, take a scheduled break.
Support exists. Competitions are not gambling, but free, confidential support is available from services such as GamCare for anyone worried about their play, and no one needs to wait for a crisis to use it.

Frequently asked questions

Do new compers actually win anything?

Some do, quickly; most wins take longer than the first month, because entry counts are large and prizes are limited. The point of the first year is a system that keeps costs low and entries valid, so wins are collected rather than missed.

What is the most common reason an entry gets voided?

Breaking an entry cap or missing the closing date, followed by eligibility errors. None of them can be fixed after the fact, which is why checking the rules before entering is the best habit to build.

Should you pay to enter competitions?

It can be part of the hobby if it fits a budget set in advance, but it is never required. Paid chance draws carry a free postal entry route, free daily games exist, and mixing free and paid entries keeps costs down.

How do you spot a competition scam?

Any request to pay a fee, share card details or click an unexpected link to release a prize is a scam. Genuine results are published on the site you entered, and winners are contacted with details that match an entry you actually made.

When is it time to take a break from comping?

When the hobby costs more than planned, when it feels like an obligation rather than fun, or when you notice yourself chasing losses. A scheduled break, with subscriptions paused and a return date, resets the habit.

Sources

Promotional marketing: Free entry routes, ASA and CAP, accessed 7 October 2026
Voluntary code of good practice for prize draw operators, DCMS, accessed 7 October 2026
GamCare, GamCare, accessed 7 October 2026
MrRaffle free daily games, 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.

Start with the cheapest version of the hobby: new players can claim free tickets, the free daily games cost nothing to enter each day, and how to win competitions covers the habits that keep entries valid.