The skill requirement
Every competition on this site requires you to answer a question correctly before an entry is placed. The questions test general knowledge and judgement, come from a large moderated bank, and the answer is not shown anywhere on the page. Slider games require you to complete a timed memory challenge instead.
This is not a formality. An entry made with a wrong answer is not entered and no tokens are taken for it.
The free entry route
Every competition can be entered free of charge by post. A postal entry receives a real ticket number in the same draw and has exactly the same chance of winning as a paid entry. Full instructions are on the free entry route page and on every competition page.
Slider games additionally offer one free play per account per day.
Ticket caps and odds
Each competition publishes the maximum number of tickets before it opens. That cap is never raised. The odds of any single ticket winning are one in the cap, and the ticket picker calculates your exact odds as you change the quantity.
Instant wins
Some competitions include instant-win prizes attached to particular ticket numbers. The full prize table, with how many of each prize existed and how many remain, is published on the competition page and updates live.
Draws
Draws take place on the published date and time, whether or not the competition has sold out. We do not extend closing dates and we do not roll draws over.
A random server seed is generated when a competition is created and only its SHA-256 fingerprint is published. After the draw the seed itself is published, and the winning ticket number can be recomputed by anyone from the seed. Where a draw is instead made live on camera, the number drawn on camera is recorded and the stream is linked from the result.
If the winning number belongs to a ticket that was never sold, the prize is retained and this is stated publicly on the result.
Claiming a prize
We contact winners using their account details within seven days. We may require proof of identity and age before releasing a prize. Cash prizes are paid by bank transfer within five working days of verification.
Publicity
Winners are published as a first name, an initial and a town. We will ask before publishing a photograph or a quotation, and you may decline without affecting your prize.
Conduct
Bulk, automated or duplicated entries, multiple accounts, and any attempt to interfere with a draw will result in entries being voided and the account being closed.
Complaints
Our complaints procedure is published separately and we log every complaint we receive.
Last updated 12 Aug 2026.