Every prize draw on Prize Wise can be entered for free. This is not marketing — it is law. Here is the practical guide: how to do it, which operators make it easiest, and what your rights are.
The Legal Foundation
UK prize draws that sell paid entries must also offer a free alternative method of entry (AMOE). This is a structural requirement under the Gambling Act 2005 exemption that allows prize draws to operate without a UKGC licence. Without a free entry route, a paid prize draw becomes an unlicensed lottery — which is illegal.
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 add a second layer: hiding the free entry route, making it unreasonably difficult to find, or treating free entries differently from paid entries can constitute an unfair commercial practice.
These are not obscure legal provisions. They are the foundational rules of the sector.
How to Enter Any Prize Draw for Free
The standard free entry method across the UK prize draw sector is postal:
- Find the operator's postal entry details. These should be on their website — in the terms and conditions, FAQ section, or a dedicated free entry page. UKGC Code signatories commit to making this prominent.
- Write a postcard or letter including:
- Your full name
- Your postal address
- The exact name of the draw you wish to enter
- The draw closing date (if multiple draws run simultaneously)
- Post it to the operator's registered address using first-class mail. The entry must arrive — not just be postmarked — before the closing date.
- One entry per envelope unless the operator's terms explicitly allow multiple draw entries per envelope.
That is it. Your entry is now in the draw with identical odds to every paid entry.
What "Equal Odds" Means
This is worth emphasising. A free postal entry does not go into a separate "free" pool. It does not have reduced odds. It does not receive secondary consideration. It enters the same draw, in the same pool, with the same probability of being selected as a £25 paid entry.
Any operator that treats free entries differently is violating the terms of the Gambling Act exemption. If you have evidence of this, report it to the Advertising Standards Authority or Trading Standards.
Operators With the Best Free Entry Experience
Based on Prize Wise's compliance assessment across 484+ operators, these operators stand out for free entry transparency:
Code Signatories (Clearest Free Entry)
| Operator | PW Score | Free Entry Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| BOTB | 9.1 | Instructions on every draw page |
| Blaze Competitions | 8.3 | Dedicated free entry section |
| Omaze | 8.2 | FAQ section and terms |
| Daymade | 7.8 | FAQ section |
| Win A Million | 7.2 | Terms and conditions |
Non-Signatories (Free Entry Exists but May Be Less Visible)
Operators not signed to the Code still have the same legal obligation to accept free entries. However, they have not committed to making the route prominent. You may need to dig into terms and conditions to find postal entry details.
The Economics of Free Entry
A first-class stamp costs 85p. Paid entries for prize draws range from £1 to £25+. For high-value draws — a BOTB supercar worth £150,000 or an Omaze dream home worth £2 million — the stamp-to-prize ratio makes postal entry remarkably cost-effective.
Some dedicated competition entrants send dozens of postal entries monthly. At 85p each, 50 entries per month costs £42.50 — less than two entries on a premium digital draw.
The trade-off is convenience. Digital entry takes seconds. Postal entry requires writing, addressing, stamping, and posting. For frequent entrants, the time cost is the real expense.
Common Problems and How to Handle Them
"I can't find the postal address"
Check the operator's terms and conditions — it is usually in the "How to Enter" or "Free Entry" section. If it genuinely is not published, this is a compliance failure. The operator is still legally required to accept free entries; contact them directly to request the postal address.
"The draw closed before my entry arrived"
Post first-class and allow at least 3-5 working days before the closing date. Some operators set a separate postal entry deadline earlier than the digital deadline — check the terms for this. If the operator's postal deadline is unreasonably close to the draw date, this may constitute an unfair practice.
"How do I know my entry was received?"
Standard postal entries have no tracking. Some entrants use "signed for" delivery for valuable draws, though this increases cost. Ultimately, you are relying on the Royal Mail and the operator's mail handling process.
"The operator said postal entries aren't accepted"
If the operator sells paid entries, they are legally required to accept free entries on equal terms. An operator refusing postal entries while selling digital entries is likely operating outside the Gambling Act exemption. Report this to Trading Standards.
Tips for Regular Free Entrants
- Batch entries: Write multiple entries in one sitting, one envelope per draw. This makes the process more efficient.
- Track your entries: Keep a simple spreadsheet of which draws you have entered, the closing dates, and the postal address used.
- Prioritise Code signatories: These operators have committed to transparent free entry routes, reducing the risk of your entry being mishandled.
- Focus on high-value draws: The economics of postal entry favour expensive prizes. A stamp for a £100 cash draw is less compelling than a stamp for a £200,000 car.
- Use Prize Wise: Filter operators by Code signatory status to find the most transparent free entry routes.
Related: Free Entry Guide · The UKGC Voluntary Code · All 484+ operator reviews