The Online Competition Standards Authority (OCSA) is an independent standards and certification body for UK online prize-draw operators. It was founded in response to the DCMS Voluntary Code of Good Practice (2025) and provides auditing, certification and draw integrity services to the sector.

No. OCSA is an independent standards body, not a regulator. It does not have statutory powers. Certification indicates compliance with OCSA standards and alignment with the DCMS Voluntary Code, but is not a legal requirement or regulatory approval.

What is the DCMS Voluntary Code of Good Practice for prize draws?

The DCMS Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators was published by the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2025. Over 100 operators have signed it. It sets out standards for player protection, transparency, draw integrity and accountability. The full implementation deadline is 20 May 2026.

Are UK online prize draws legal?

Yes. UK online prize draws are legal under the Gambling Act 2005 provided a genuine free entry route exists alongside any paid entry route. They are not regulated by the Gambling Commission. The DCMS Voluntary Code of Good Practice provides the primary regulatory framework.

How does OCSA certification work?

OCSA offers three certification tiers: Certified (£75/month), Silver (£275/month) and Gold (£1,275/month). Each tier requires an audit of the operator's website and processes against OCSA's standards. OCSA standards are more demanding than the DCMS Voluntary Code.

What is the OCSA draw register?

The OCSA public draw register at draws.ocsa.org.uk/register/ records all certified draws with permanent blockchain verification on the Polygon mainnet. Each draw uses Chainlink VRF (verifiable random function) to ensure results cannot be predicted or manipulated.

What is the OCSA instant win prize manifest register?

The OCSA instant win register at draws.ocsa.org.uk/iw/ publishes the SHA-256 hash of each sealed prize manifest before the competition opens. OCSA acts as independent arbiter — generating all winning ticket numbers before sales begin and holding the manifest encrypted. Neither the operator nor OCSA staff can alter winning ticket numbers after sealing.

Complain about OCSA

How to Complain About OCSA

OCSA holds operators to account. It follows that OCSA must be prepared to be held to account itself.

If you believe that OCSA has acted unfairly, made an error in a certification decision, handled your concern poorly, or behaved in a way that does not reflect the standards we set for others, you have the right to tell us - and we take that seriously.

What you can complain about

You can use this process to raise concerns about:

a certification decision you believe was wrong or unjustified
the way OCSA handled a concern you previously raised
unreasonable delay in responding to you
conduct by OCSA or anyone acting on our behalf that you consider unprofessional or unfair
a conflict of interest you believe has affected an OCSA decision
any other matter relating to how OCSA has discharged its responsibilities

How to make a complaint

Send your complaint to info@ocsa.org.uk with the subject line: Complaint About OCSA.

Please include:

your name and contact details
a clear description of your complaint
the dates involved
what outcome you are looking for
any relevant correspondence or supporting information

What happens next

We will acknowledge your complaint within three working days.

Your complaint will be reviewed by a senior person at OCSA who was not directly involved in the matter you are raising. We will write to you with a full response within 21 days. If we need more time, we will tell you why and give you a revised timescale.

Our response will set out what we found, whether we uphold your complaint in full or in part, and what action we intend to take as a result.

If you remain dissatisfied

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may ask for your complaint to be reviewed by the OCSA Chairman. Requests for review should be made within 14 days of receiving our response, again to info@ocsa.org.uk, with the subject line: OCSA Complaint Review Request.

The Chair's decision on review is final within OCSA's internal process.

We recognise that this means the final internal review rests with the organisation itself. We are a young body and we are transparent about that limitation. As OCSA grows, we intend to establish an independent external review route and will publish details here when that is in place.

Our commitment

We will handle all complaints honestly and without defensiveness. If we have made a mistake, we will say so and we will put it right where we can. Complaints help us improve, and we treat them as such.