Know Your Rights

What You Should Expect From a Fair Competition

OCSA was created to help protect people who enter online prize-draw competitions.
This page explains, in simple language, what you should expect from a fair operator running a fair competition.

1. Clear information

A fair operator always tells you:

  • what the prize is

  • how many tickets are available

  • when the draw will happen

  • how the winner is chosen

Nothing should be hidden in the small print.

2. A real free entry option

Every chance-based competition must give you:

  • a clear, easy, free entry method

  • the same chance of winning as paid entries

  • the same closing date and treatment

If the free entry route is hard to find or confusing, that is a warning sign.

3. Honest advertising

Fair competition operators:

  • don’t exaggerate

  • don’t use cartoon or gambling-style graphics

  • don’t target children

  • don’t pretend the prize will “change your life”

Scam-like ads are a red flag.

4. Safe, legal prizes

A fair operator will not offer:

  • broken or unsafe items

  • illegal e-scooters

  • unroadworthy vehicles

  • mystery boxes (you don’t know what the prize will be until you have won it)

If a vehicle is a prize, it should be legal to drive and everything about it should be disclosed.

5. Fair, transparent draws

A trustworthy operator:

  • runs the draw when they say they will

  • uses a fair and verifiably random draw method

  • keeps proper records

  • does not change the rules at the last minute

Draws must be honest and checkable.

6. Your data should be respected

Operators must:

  • only collect the data they need

  • tell you how your data will be used

  • follow UK data protection law

  • not share your information without permission

Privacy matters.

7. You should be able to raise concerns

Fair operators:

  • have a clear way to contact them

  • respond to reasonable complaints

  • deal with problems in a fair way

If that fails, OCSA may be able to review the issue.