Some competition sites push a draw back when not enough tickets have sold. The advertising rules allow a closing date to move only when something unavoidable and outside the promoter’s control makes it necessary. Slow sales don’t count.
What an extension means for your ticket
Your ticket stays in, but the draw happens later than the date you saw, and every extra ticket sold in the meantime lowers your chance. A prize costs the same whether 200 tickets sell or 2,000, so moving the draw gives a site more time to sell before it has to pay out.
What the rule says
The ASA’s guidance says closing dates must not be changed unless “unavoidable circumstances beyond the control” of the promoter make it necessary, and an extension “is likely to disadvantage existing participants” because it adds to the pool of entrants. Not receiving enough entries is not an unavoidable circumstance. (ASA: changing closing dates.)
A clause in the terms doesn’t fix it
Two sites whose terms let them extend a draw up to four times if tickets didn’t sell out had complaints upheld in 2020: KS Competitions and Elite Competitions. In the HMV Competitions house draw, the extension lowered the odds of people who entered on time. See all three rulings.
What to check before you enter
- Do the terms let the site move the date, and how many times?
- Is the reason tied to ticket sales?
- Is there a minimum number of sales, and what happens if it isn’t reached?
- Can the prize be swapped for a share of ticket sales?
- How many tickets can be sold in total, so you know your chance?
How Hoardsy runs its competitions
- Closing dates are never extended for slow sales.
- There’s no minimum number of sales. Every prize stands, sold out or not.
- Every competition page shows the prizes and chances before you enter.
- End draws are drawn at the published close from every ticket sold, and every result can be checked on Provably fair.
Lost? Choose published closing dates and draws you can check. Try our free £50 draw. A new draw opens every 72 hours while the series runs. One entry per person per draw. 18+, Great Britain only; no purchase necessary. See the closing date and full rules on /lost. Winner confirms ID.
Last checked 12 October 2026.
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.
