OCSA Cost in Practical Terms

Putting the cost into context

For many operators, the question is not simply what compliance costs, but what level of resource they would otherwise need to commit in order to achieve and demonstrate it properly.

OCSA is designed to provide a structured, externally credible framework at a cost that is modest in business terms, particularly when set against the importance of compliance, credibility, and sector stability.

Certified

Less than £1,000 per year

This is broadly comparable to the cost of a very limited amount of office junior time spread across the year.

In other words, for less than the cost of even a small amount of internal junior resource, an operator can begin to put a proper external framework around standards, transparency, and demonstrable good practice.

Silver

£275 per month / £3,300 per year

This is broadly comparable to the cost of a junior administrative or compliance support resource for only a small number of hours each week.

At this level, the focus moves beyond basic alignment and towards clearer evidence, stronger structure, and greater confidence that standards are being met consistently.

Gold

£1,275 per month / £15,300 per year

This remains far below the cost of employing a dedicated in-house compliance officer or building a meaningful internal compliance function.

At this level, operators are investing in stronger assurance, deeper oversight, and a more robust demonstration of credibility to customers, banks, partners, and other external stakeholders.

The wider comparison

If the prize-draw sector were ever pushed toward full gambling-style regulation, the cost would be in a completely different category.

At that point, operators could be looking not at hundreds or low thousands per year, but at hundreds of thousands of pounds in licensing, reporting, specialist staffing, systems, governance, and ongoing regulatory burden.

A useful way to think about it is this:

OCSA costs are measured in the equivalent of modest office support. Gambling-style regulation would be measured in the equivalent of multiple senior full-time salaries.

Why this matters

The real question is not whether compliance has a cost. It does.

The real question is whether operators are willing to invest a relatively modest amount now in order to:

  • demonstrate credibility

  • distinguish themselves from weaker operators

  • strengthen trust with banks and customers

  • and help the sector remain proportionate, rather than drifting toward much heavier regulation

OCSA exists to make that investment practical, structured, and visible.