The Basic Format
A UK online raffle — or prize competition — works like this: an operator lists a prize and a ticket price. You buy a ticket and receive a unique entry number. On a specific draw date, a winner is selected from all valid entries. If your number comes up, you win the prize.
This format is straightforward, but the legal details behind it are important — and they protect you as an entrant.
Competitions vs Lotteries
In UK law, a lottery is purely chance-based and requires a Gambling Commission licence. A competition can be skill-based and avoid the lottery classification — this is why sites like BOTB use a "Spot the Ball" format. Pure chance draws require a licence; skill elements create a legal alternative route.
Step by Step: How a Draw Works
- 1. The operator lists the prize — including a photo, the prize value, ticket price, maximum ticket count, and draw date.
- 2. You buy tickets — paying by card or other method. Each ticket gets a unique sequential number.
- 3. Free entry option — you can also enter by post without paying (required by law).
- 4. The draw closes — either when all tickets sell out or the deadline passes.
- 5. A winner is selected — either by random number generator (RNG), live draw, or skill-based judging.
- 6. The winner is contacted — usually by phone and email. Identity verification may be required.
- 7. The prize is delivered — physically shipped, collected, or in the case of cash/property, transferred legally.
Random Number Generators (RNGs)
Most pure-chance competitions use an RNG — a software algorithm that produces an unpredictable number within a defined range. The output is the winning ticket number.
Legitimate operators use audited, certified RNGs and record the draw process. Some post video evidence of the draw; others use third-party verification services. The strongest operators broadcast draws live on social media so anyone can watch in real time.
Skill-Based Competitions
Sites like BOTB use a skill element to avoid lottery classification. Entrants must demonstrate some level of skill or judgement — in BOTB's case, estimating where a ball is in a photograph. The winner is the person whose answer is judged most accurate, not a randomly selected entrant.
This matters legally because it removes the pure-chance element that defines a lottery. It also means strategy genuinely helps — regular entrants develop skill over time.
What Happens if a Draw Doesn't Fill?
Operators handle unsold tickets differently. Common approaches include:
- Extending the deadline — giving more time for tickets to sell
- Reducing the prize or substituting a cash equivalent — and drawing from tickets sold
- Cancelling the draw and issuing refunds — the safest outcome for entrants
Raffall's escrow model holds all funds until the draw completes, which prevents operators from running with ticket money without delivering a prize. Always check the T&Cs for how a specific operator handles underfilled draws.
How to Spot a Legitimate Operator
- UK Companies House registration — verifiable via companieshouse.gov.uk
- Clear T&Cs with a free postal entry route
- Previous winner announcements with photo evidence
- A verifiable business address
- Positive Trustpilot reviews with real responses to complaints
- Transparent draw process — live or recorded
Red Flags to Watch For
No UK company registration number. No free entry option. Draw results not publicly announced. No named winners. Unsolicited DMs offering prizes. Pressure to buy quickly. If any of these apply, don't enter.