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 the free postal entry route that UK law requires for paid competitions.
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
UK law requires that any paid prize competition must offer a free entry route. 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, but generally you are allowed one free postal entry per competition.
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
A standard UK postcard costs around 90p to send with a second-class stamp. If the competition ticket price is only £1 to £2, the postal route may not save much. But for higher-priced tickets, it can be a genuine saving. Free-entry competitions, on the other hand, cost nothing at all.
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.