Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about UK competition sites and finding the best odds.
Are UK car competition and raffle sites legit?
Yes, the vast majority of established UK competition and raffle sites (like Elite Competitions, Rev Comps, 7Days Performance, BOTB, etc.) are legitimate businesses. They operate under UK prize competition law (the Gambling Act 2005), which requires either an element of skill or a free entry route to distinguish them from illegal lotteries. Competition Showroom only aggregates listings from known, verified platforms.
Are UK prize draws gambling?
Legally, no — provided they are run as prize competitions rather than lotteries. UK prize competitions sit outside the gambling regime when they include either a genuine element of skill (e.g. a multiple-choice question that requires a sensible answer) or a free postal entry route on equivalent terms to paid entries. Lotteries (pure chance, paid entry, no free route) require a Gambling Commission licence and are heavily restricted.
How do I know if a UK competition is rigged?
Reputable operators conduct draws live on Facebook or YouTube using a randomiser tool (often Google's RANDOM.ORG-style picker), with the winner's name and ticket number visible on screen and follow-up handover footage. Red flags to watch for: no public draw, no published winners, repeatedly extended end dates, vague or missing terms and conditions, no free postal entry route, and no registered UK company. Competition Showroom only includes operators in our directory who meet our published inclusion criteria — see our methodology page for details.
Is BOTB legit?
Yes — Best of the Best (BOTB) is a long-established UK prize competition operator and a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange (AIM-listed). They run dream-car and lifestyle competitions with live draws and verifiable winners. We track their live draws and Value Ratios on Competition Showroom — see our BOTB review page for current data.
Is Elite Competitions legit?
Yes — Elite Competitions is one of the larger UK prize competition operators, with a long track record of completed draws and prize handovers. We track their live draws on Competition Showroom; see our Elite Competitions review page for current Value Ratios and live draws.
Do I pay tax on a UK prize competition win?
In the UK, winnings from prize competitions are generally not subject to income tax for the recipient. However, subsequent gains (e.g. capital gains if you sell a won vehicle, investment returns on a cash prize) may be taxable, and inheritance/gift tax rules apply normally. Always speak to a UK tax adviser about your specific situation.
How do I find the best odds on car competitions?
The easiest way to find the best odds is to use Competition Showroom. We track live data from the top UK providers and calculate a proprietary 'Value Ratio' for every single draw. By sorting our dashboard by the lowest Value Ratio, you can instantly see which competitions offer the best fundamental mathematical value for your money. You can also use our free Odds Calculator to model your personal win probability.
What does 'Value Ratio' mean?
The Value Ratio is our calculation of (Total Tickets × Ticket Price) divided by (Quoted Cash Prize). A lower Value Ratio means more of the entry money is returned to the prize pool, offering better fundamental mathematical value for the player. A ratio of 1.0 represents a break-even point for the organiser, while higher ratios indicate larger gross margins.
Do people actually win these car giveaways?
Yes. Thousands of UK entrants have won cars, cash, tech, and luxury watches through these platforms. Operators regularly post live draws on Facebook/YouTube and publish handover footage with named winners to demonstrate transparency.
Is Competition Showroom a competition site?
No, Competition Showroom is an independent aggregator and analytics platform. We do not host our own draws or sell tickets. We act as a search engine and comparison tool to help you find the best competitions hosted by third-party UK operators.
Does Competition Showroom take affiliate commission from operators?
No. Listings in our directory are not paid placements and we do not currently take affiliate commission from any UK competition operator. Our editorial inclusion criteria are published in full on our methodology page. If our commercial relationships ever change, we will disclose that openly on the methodology page and on every page where it applies.
How often are the competitions updated?
Our system continuously monitors all supported providers and refreshes listings, ticket counts, and Value Ratios in real time. This ensures you are looking at active draws and up-to-date odds whenever you visit the site.
Why do some listings not have a Value Ratio?
In some cases, a competition provider does not publish a clear cash alternative or retail value for the prize. Because our calculation depends on those figures, we are unable to provide an accurate Value Ratio and we display no value rather than estimate. Some draw formats (instant-win, percentage-only) also fall outside what the metric measures.
Are there free ways to enter these competitions?
Yes. UK prize competition law typically requires operators to offer a free route of entry (usually via post) on equivalent terms to paid entries. You can usually find the details for free postal entry in the terms and conditions at the bottom of the specific operator's website. Competition Showroom does not modify or restrict access to these free routes.
Can I trust new or smaller UK competition operators?
Treat new operators with appropriate caution. Look for: a clear free-entry route in their terms, public live draws with named winners, a consistent track record of completed draws over several months, a registered UK company, and accessible customer support. If an operator is in Competition Showroom's directory, we have at least verified that we can reliably surface their live data and they appear to operate within UK prize competition law — but our directory is not a regulator endorsement.