Everything worth knowing before you enter a prize draw anywhere, written straight and sourced where it names a rule or a ruling. Pick a topic below.
Compare competition sites
UK sites scored on the same published evidence. Hoardsy publishes these and is never ranked.
- Best competition sites in the UKCompare 11 UK competition sites on odds, dates, free entry and draw checks. Published by Hoardsy, which is not ranked; weights and missing evidence are disclosed.
- Instant win games in the UKPlinko, Skyfall and Spotlight for real prizes, revealed the moment you buy. Every prize and chance published, every result checkable. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Best instant win competition sites in the UKCompare instant win sites on published chances, result verification, free entry and payment terms. Dated sources, scored tables and Hoardsy’s prelaunch status.
- Best cheap competition sites in the UKRank cheap UK competition sites using verified ticket prices, published chances, postal entry and sales terms. Compare the full cost behind 10p entries.
- Competition sites with the best odds informationCompare competition sites on checkable odds, ticket caps, draw records and fixed terms. Learn to compare equal spend without inventing a site-wide win rate.
- Best car competition sites in the UKCompare car competition sites on cash choices, closing terms, draw methods and free entry. Dated evidence and practical checks for the exact vehicle offered.
- Best cash competition sites in the UKRank cash competition sites on stated payment timing, published chances, sales terms and free entry. Separate cash prizes, credit and cash alternatives.
- Most legit competition sites: compare the evidenceCompare UK competition sites on company identity, entry terms, draw records and operating evidence. Sources and scores, without treating a rank as legal approval.
Alternatives to the big names
Leaving a site you know? Each guide puts it beside its closest alternatives on the same eight questions.
- BOTB alternativesBOTB alternatives compared on cash choices, free entry, closing dates and how winners are picked. Spot the Ball vs random draws, from each site’s own terms.
- Omaze alternativesLooking for sites like Omaze? Compare house draws and other UK alternatives on ticket caps, cash choices, low-sales promises and free entry, from their own terms.
- Raffle House alternativesRaffle House alternatives compared: house draws with ticket caps, full-prize promises and cash choices. What its 70% low-sales rule means and who avoids it.
- Elite Competitions alternativesElite Competitions alternatives compared on closing dates, low-sales promises, published chances and cash choices, with its 2020 ASA ruling in context.
- McKinney Competitions alternativesMcKinney Competitions alternatives compared: written no-extension and full-prize promises, cash choices and free entry, from each site’s own terms.
- Aspire Competitions alternativesAspire Competitions alternatives compared on closing dates, full-prize promises, published chances and free entry, using each operator’s own terms.
- Lucky Day Competitions alternativesLucky Day Competitions alternatives compared on ticket prices, chances, closing dates and postal entry, including cheaper car and cash sites.
- Dream Car Giveaways alternativesDream Car Giveaways alternatives compared: car competition sites with ticket caps, cash figures, live draws and free entry, from their own terms.
- Rev Comps alternativesRev Comps alternatives compared on ticket prices, cash figures, closing dates and postal entry, including cheaper UK car competition sites.
- 7days Performance alternatives7days Performance alternatives compared: car and instant competition sites with written promises, cash figures, live draws and free postal entry.
- Click Competitions alternativesClick Competitions alternatives compared: car and cash competition sites with written full-prize promises, cash figures and free postal entry.
Start here
How UK prize draws work, the free route and what you get back.
- How UK prize draws workHow online prize draws and competitions work in the UK: entry, the free postal route, the 2026 rules for operators, how winners are picked and what to check before you pay.
- Are online prize draws legit?Are UK online prize draws and competition sites legal? How the free entry route and skill questions keep them lawful, who regulates them, and a checklist before you pay.
- Free postal entryHow to enter a Hoardsy competition free by post: what to write, where to send it, when it must arrive and why it carries the same chances as a paid ticket.
- What payback meansPayback is the share of ticket money a competition returns as prizes. See how to work it out with a worked example, and why it matters more than the top prize.
- Are online prize draws legit?Are UK online prize draws and competition sites legal? How the free entry route and skill questions keep them lawful, who regulates them, and a checklist before you pay.
- Cash alternatives explainedWhat a cash alternative is, why it is usually worth less than the prize, the 70% fallback the ASA ruled against, and how Hoardsy fixes item prize values and delivery.
- Instant win vs end drawOn Hoardsy, a public random number decides each instant result seconds after you buy; an end draw picks a winner after the close. How each works, what the odds mean, and how a Hoardsy ticket gets both.
- How a provably fair draw worksHow a prize draw can be checked afterwards: the entries are locked first, a public random number picks the winner, and an outside log timestamps the order. Plain English.
- Prize draw, prize competition or lottery?The difference between a free draw, a skill-based prize competition and an illegal lottery in Great Britain, using Gambling Commission and ASA guidance.
- Is Hoardsy legit?Is Hoardsy legit or a scam? How Hoardsy runs its prize competitions, how every result can be checked, where to find independent reviews and how to complain.
- What a competition’s terms must sayThe UK advertising code lists what a prize promotion must tell you before you enter: closing date, free route, prizes, who runs it, cash alternative and prize delivery. Rule by rule.
- How to complain about a competition siteThink a prize draw was run unfairly? How to complain to the ASA, what to have ready, what it can and cannot deal with, and where contract and scam problems go instead.
- UK prize draw rules and the 2026 codeThe rules UK pay-to-enter prize draws follow in 2026: the government’s voluntary code (18+, spend limits, free entry, odds, random draws), the ASA code and what to check.
- Free prize draws in the UKFree prize draws in the UK: how to enter a paid draw free by post with the same chance, what “free” has to mean, and Christmas draws you can enter free.
- How to spot a risky competition siteSeven red flags on UK competition sites, each tied to an ASA ruling or lawyer guidance: hidden free entry, moving dates, shrinking prizes, no winner proof and more.
- The UK competition market in numbersWhat the government’s 2025 study found: £1.3bn a year, 401 operators, one operator with over 60% of players, and prizes worth under half of ticket sales.
- Prizes you can winEvery prize you can win on Hoardsy this Christmas: £5,000 cash, MacBook Pro M5, Moncler Maya jacket, Canada Goose parka and more, with ticket prices, chances and free entry.
Prizes and draws
The clauses that decide what you actually win.
- Draw extendedCan a competition extend its closing date when tickets don’t sell? What the ASA says, the rulings against sites that did, and what to check before you enter.
- Minimum salesHow minimum sales rules work in prize competitions, what happens when sales fall short, and what to check before you buy a ticket.
Rulings and rivals
What the ASA found, in its own words, with the dates.
- ASA rulings on competition sitesEvery ASA ruling on UK prize draw sites we track: hidden free entry, extended closing dates, 70% cash fallbacks, a prize never awarded and terms changed after the draw. Linked.
- Elite Competitions ASA rulingElite Competitions and the ASA: in May 2020 every complaint against Hydro Solutions Fylde Ltd was upheld, on hidden free entry, extended closing dates and a 70% cash prize.
- KS Competitions ASA rulingIn December 2020 the ASA upheld complaints about a KS Competitions promotion: a closing date extended up to four times, a 70% cash prize fallback and small-print free entry.
- What a free entry route must beThe ASA’s rules on free entry routes for paid prize draws: clear and prominent, promoted at the same level, charged at the normal rate, ordinary post. Quotes and a checklist.
- Instant win rules in the UKThe ASA’s rules for instant win promotions: fair and random awards, no exaggerated chances, telling you immediately what you won, and no cost to claim. Quotes and checks.
- How soon should a prize be awarded?What the ASA says about when prizes should be awarded: usually within 30 days, a reasonable equivalent only, and promoters stay responsible for administration.
- Skill-question competitionsWhen a UK prize competition can use a skill question instead of a free route: the Gambling Commission’s test, the Rudolf example and why token questions fail.
- Do competition sites have to show odds?What the ASA code requires on odds and prize numbers: no exaggerated chances, a stated number of prizes and clear allocation. How to compare sites, plus what Hoardsy publishes.
- Royalux Competitions ASA rulingIn January 2025 the ASA upheld a complaint that a £5,000 garden makeover draw was unfair: the supplier’s relative won, then the exclusion was removed from the terms.
- Hendy Group ASA rulingIn November 2017 the ASA did not uphold complaints that a Ford Fiesta giveaway was unfair after a distant relation of staff won. What the terms said and what the ASA wanted clearer.
- Can staff relatives win a competition?Two ASA rulings on winners connected to a promoter: Royalux (2025, upheld) and Hendy (2017, not upheld). What exclusion clauses must say and what to check before you enter.
- Is The Birthday Draw safe?Is The Birthday Draw safe and legit? Who runs it, how payment and winnings work, its refund policy, the odds of a £1 million win and where your £1 goes. From its own terms.
- The Birthday Draw vs prize competitionsThe Birthday Draw compared with UK prize competition sites: ticket price, chance of winning, how much comes back as prizes, free entry and how the winner is picked. Sourced.
- HMV Competitions ASA rulingIn April 2018 the ASA upheld complaints about an HMV Competitions house draw: the closing date was extended, the prize cut to £7,000 cash and the postal route was easy to miss.
- Amazing Giveaways ASA rulingIn August 2025 the ASA upheld a complaint against Amazing Giveaways Ltd: a £3,000 holiday voucher draw where the prize was not awarded because ticket sales would not cover its cost.
- Win-a-house draws explainedHow win-a-house prize draws work in the UK, what the ASA says about cash alternatives and free entry, and the questions to ask before you buy a ticket.
- House draws: where the ticket money goesWhat Which? reported in June 2025 about property raffles: Omaze’s 17% charity share and £1m minimum, Raffle House’s 10%, and what happens if a ticket target is missed.
Chances, game by game
Every Hoardsy game’s prizes and chances, worked through.
- Plinko: how it worksHow Plinko works on Hoardsy: the ball drop shows a result saved after entry, where to find every prize and its chance, and how to check the board isn’t rigged.
- Skyfall: how it worksSkyfall climbs through prize lines to reveal your saved result. Read the published chances and check your ticket’s proof.
- Scratchcard: how online scratch cards workHow a Hoardsy online scratch card works: scratch nine spots and match three amounts. The result is saved before you reveal, every chance is published and you can check it.
- Plinko odds explainedThe full prize table for Hoardsy Plinko (Plinko · £500 Top Prize): chance per ticket for each prize, how likely any win is at a 50p ticket, and what the end draw adds.
- Skyfall odds explainedThe full prize table for Hoardsy Skyfall (Skyfall · 50p): chance per ticket for each prize, how likely any win is at a 50p ticket, and what the end draw adds.
- Scratchcard odds explainedThe full prize table for Hoardsy Scratchcard (Scratchcard · 50p): chance per ticket for each prize, how likely any win is at a 50p ticket, and what the end draw adds.
Prizes you can win
The prizes, what they are worth and the chance of each.
- Cash competitionsUK cash competitions and cash prize draws with every prize, ticket cap and chance per ticket published. No minimum sales, no extended draws, free entry by post.
- Cheap competitionsUK competitions from 25p a ticket: £5,000 cash, a MacBook Pro M5, a Moncler Maya jacket and more. Every prize and chance shown first, plus free postal entry.
- Online prize drawsUK online prize draws with a fixed ticket cap, a fixed closing date and a winner picked by a public random number anyone can check. Free entry by post on every draw.
- Tech competitionsWin a MacBook Pro M5, an iPhone 18 Pro Max or a PS5 Pro + GTA 6 from 50p a ticket. UK tech competitions with every chance published. Free postal entry.
- Win a Dyson Airwrap i.d.Win a Dyson Airwrap i.d. worth £479.99 (or £384 cash) from 50p a ticket. 3,830 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win £5,000 cash for ChristmasWin £5,000 cash from 25p a ticket. 33,330 tickets max, drawn 25 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- £1,000 cash prize drawWin £1,000 cash from 50p a ticket. 8,000 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Instant wins on Spotlight. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win an iPhone 18 Pro MaxWin an iPhone 18 Pro Max worth £1,299 (or £1,040 cash) from 50p a ticket. 10,390 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win a Canada Goose Langford ParkaWin a Canada Goose parka worth £1,325 (or £1,060 cash) from 50p a ticket. 10,600 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win a PS5 Pro and GTA VIWin a PS5 Pro and GTA 6 worth £859.98 (or £688 cash) from 50p a ticket. 6,870 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win a MacBook Pro M5Win a MacBook Pro M5 worth £1,599 (or £1,279 cash) from 50p a ticket. 12,790 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Win a Moncler Maya jacketWin a Moncler Maya jacket worth £1,400 (or £1,120 cash) from 50p a ticket. 11,200 tickets max, drawn 20 December whatever sells. Free postal entry. 18+.
- Christmas competitions8 Christmas competitions from 25p: £5,000 cash drawn Christmas Day, iPhone 18 Pro Max, MacBook Pro M5, PS5 Pro + GTA 6 and more. Free postal entry. 18+.
Rival reviews
One operator at a time: company, terms, draws and reviews.
- BOTB review and alternativesBOTB reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Omaze UK review and alternativesOmaze UK reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Raffle House review and alternativesRaffle House reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Elite Competitions review and alternativesElite Competitions reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- 7days Performance review and alternatives7days Performance reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Dream Car Giveaways review and alternativesDream Car Giveaways reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Rev Comps review and alternativesRev Comps reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Click Competitions review and alternativesClick Competitions reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Lucky Day Competitions review and alternativesLucky Day Competitions reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- Aspire Competitions review and alternativesAspire Competitions reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
- McKinney Competitions review and alternativesMcKinney Competitions reviewed against Hoardsy: company identity, closing dates, cash alternatives, free postal entry, draw evidence and dated customer-review checks.
How it works
How Hoardsy runs its own competitions.
- How it worksHow online prize competitions work on Hoardsy: choose a draw or an instant game, see every prize and chance, then find your result.
- FairnessInstant results and end-draw winners use public random numbers after entries lock. Check any ticket or draw yourself.
Hoardsy
See the competitions
Choose a draw or an instant game. Every prize and its chance is on the page before you enter.
18+, Great Britain only. Free postal entry on every competition.
