11.Prize competitions and free draws
This section contains information about fundraising for a charitable institution through prize competitions or free draws.
Fundraising Regulator: Lotteries
11.1 General requirements
In this section, ‘you’ means a charitable institution or third-party fundraiser.
If you are fundraising on behalf of a charitable institution through a prize competition or free draw, you must have written authorisation from the charitable institution to do so.
You must publish the name of the organiser and include a clear and simple method of accessing any terms and conditions in communications about prize competitions and free draws.
If you are the organiser of a prize competition or free draw, you must follow the Code of Non‑broadcast Advertising and Direct and Promotional Marketing (CAP code). In particular, you must follow the section on promotional marketing.
11.2 The draw
In this section, ‘you’ means a charitable institution or third-party fundraiser.
Procedure for the draw
You must make sure all valid ticket entries are included in the draw, that the draw is random, and the result is recorded.
If the draw takes place in person, it should be witnessed to make sure it is random.
If the draw is carried out electronically, processes that produce random results (for example, a random-number generator) should be used.
You must tell entrants how the draw will be carried out, and give them clear details of all relevant rules, entry instructions, dates and deadlines.
Procedure after the draw
After the draw you must:
- give the organiser records of tickets and payments for audit purposes;
- take all reasonable steps to contact all winners within seven days of the draw;
- take all reasonable steps to award prizes to the winners; and
- make details of the winners public (unless they objected to this when they entered the draw).
Gambling Commission: Free draws and prize competitions
Northern Ireland Department for Communities: Leaflet on prize competitions in Northern Ireland
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA): Promotional marketing: Prize draws