You do not need to pay to win
One of the most common misconceptions about prize competitions is that you always need to buy a ticket. In the UK, there are two distinct ways to enter for free: dedicated free competitions that cost nothing to enter, and a free postal entry route offered alongside paid entry.
Type 1: Free-entry competitions
Some competition platforms run entirely free competitions alongside their paid ones. These are standalone draws where entry is completely free. You just need an account. There is no purchase required and no postcard to send. You simply click to enter and receive your ticket number. These are a great way to try out a platform and get a feel for how competitions work before committing any money.
Type 2: Free postal entry for paid competitions
Random draws with paid and free entry must meet the free-draw conditions. Genuine competitions requiring sufficient skill can be different. This is almost always a postal entry option. You send a postcard or letter with your details to the competition operator and receive the same chance of winning as someone who paid for a ticket. The rules vary by platform. On Odds Up, each paid competition sets one maximum number of tickets per person and you can reach it entirely by post, sending one postcard per entry.
How to enter by post
- Find the postal entry address on the competition platform (usually on a dedicated Free Entry page).
- Write your full name, email address, and the competition name on a postcard or the back of a sealed envelope.
- Post it to the address provided before the competition closes.
- The operator will manually add your entry to the draw.
- You will be notified by email if you win, just like a paid entrant.
Save on postage
Check current Royal Mail rates for the item’s size, weight and service. Compare postage with the ticket price rather than assuming a postal entry is cheaper. A free online competition can have no entry fee or postage cost.
Where to find free competitions
Look for platforms that clearly label their free competitions. At Odds Up, free competitions are marked with a green "Free Entry" badge on the competition card. You can enter instantly with a registered account. No payment, no postcard, no catch. We also provide full postal entry instructions on our Free Entry page for all paid competitions.
Are free entries treated fairly?
On a legitimate platform, yes. Free entries, whether from a free competition, a postal entry, or a referral reward, are included in the draw on equal terms with paid entries. At Odds Up, all entries go into the same draw pool and the winner is selected using the same cryptographically secure random process regardless of how they entered.
Watch out for fake free competitions
Not all free competitions are genuine. Be cautious of social media giveaways with no terms, no company details, and no verifiable draw process. Legitimate free competitions will have clear terms and conditions, a registered company behind them, and a transparent draw mechanism. If you cannot find any of these, it is best to move on. Our guide to spotting fake competitions covers the warning signs in detail.