The Free Entry Route For Raffle Competitions

How Do You Play For The Price Of A Postcard & Stamp

With so many competition sites running nowadays, here is a way that, if you have the time, you could save money and win prizes for the cost of a postcard entry and postage.

Companies can run free draws and prize competitions for commercial or private gain. These can be used to promote a product or raffle a high-value item such as a car.

Before choosing your entry method for a car raffle, look at the entry form for your free draw or prize competition. Please make yourself aware of the rules they abide by so that your free entry will count and their prize competition is within the law, as so many scams are going on.

If you’re worried about Scams, look on our review page, which offers real-time Trust Pilot scores and BCR customer scores—Best Car Raffles: Trustworthy Giveaways! , and give them a review !!!

What is a free draw?

Taken from the Gambling Commissions website –

There are two types of free draw:

• The first type is where all entries are free.

Free is any method of communication charged at the normal rate, and it specifically refers to using first—or second-class post as the method of entry. This can be in the form of a postcard or gift card giving all the required entry information.

Normal rate means that there can be no additional payment over what it normally costs to use a particular method of communication. For example, special delivery is not classed as free.

• The second type has a paid entry fee and a free entry route. Normally, only one entry per person per competition is allowed.

If you run a free draw with a paid entry route, you must make sure that:

• People can choose to take part without paying
• The free entry route can be no more expensive and must be no less convenient than the paid route
• The free entry route must also be available at the normal rate. For example, you cannot use special delivery on the accessible route and First Class in the paid route
• The free entry route must be promoted and displayed at the same level as the paid for routes
• The choice between the free entry route and the paid entry route must be promoted so that people who want to participate can see it
• The system that determines prizes should not recognise the two routes as different.

What is a prize competition?

A prize competition determines the outcome by the participant’s skill, judgement or knowledge.

The organisers of a prize competition must be able to show that the skill, knowledge or judgement required will:

• Discourage people wishing to enter from doing so because it is too difficult (Hence why you have a question as classed as a skill-based contest)
• Prevent a proportion of those who enter from winning a prize

Multiple choice questions, which allow a second chance if your first answer is wrong, rarely meet this criteria.

Do I need a licence to run a free draw or prize competition?

You do not need a licence or permission to run a free draw or prize competition as long as they are being run in a way that meets the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab).

What happens if my free draw or prize competition does not meet the requirements?

All lotteries are regulated under the Gambling Act 2005 and cannot be run for commercial or private gain.

If they do not meet the requirements, then they may be running an illegal lottery.

The Gambling Commission prevents illegal gambling and may act when free draws or prize competitions are being run as illegal lotteries. It is also there to ensure that they follow official rules.

https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/forms/formatrequest

Conclusion

To sum up, the presence of a free method of entry is legally required to comply with the Gambling Commission guidelines. If you don’t feel these guidelines are being met then get in contact with them –

Be aware some competition sites offer short windows on online entries, so the postal service can mean that you miss the free entry window. So don’t delay. Get your cards ready to go!!!

We also offer real-time odds, so feel free to use the free calculator too – Competition Odds Calculator – Boost Your Winning Chances (bestcarraffle.com)

Here is an example of the format you need to use for free entry, so don’t delay to get your Postcards & Stamps ordered –