Why postal entry exists
A prize draw that takes paid entries must also offer a free way to enter that meets the rules for a free draw, and the most common method is postal entry: you send a postcard or letter to the organiser instead of buying a ticket. The Gambling Commission explains that the free route must be sufficiently visible and that free and paid entries must be treated equally in winner selection. A genuine prize competition that relies on sufficient skill, knowledge or judgement can be different and does not automatically require a postal route. Our guide to UK competition law explains the distinction in more detail.
What you need to send
The exact requirements vary by organiser, but most ask for the same basic information: your full name, the email address registered on your account and the exact name of the competition you want to enter. Some also ask for a username, an account number or the answer to a question. Always copy the current instructions from the organiser's own free entry page before posting anything, rather than an address from an old blog post.
Step-by-step postal entry process
- Create an account on the competition platform where one is required, so the organiser can match your entry to your profile.
- Find the postal entry instructions. These are usually on a dedicated Free Entry page or in the terms and conditions.
- Write the required details on a postcard or letter: typically your full name, registered email address and the competition name, plus any answer the rules ask for.
- Post it to the address provided, with sufficient ordinary postage for the item's size and weight.
- Allow time for delivery and processing before the competition closes.
- Check your email or account for confirmation that your entry has been added to the draw.
Postal entry checklist
- Confirm that the specific competition offers postal entry and is still open.
- Copy the current postal address and competition identifier from the organiser’s own instructions.
- Include every required personal detail and account identifier. For Odds Up, use the details specified on the free entry page.
- If a question applies, include the answer exactly as instructed. Odds Up publishes enabled questions and options on its free entry page.
- Follow the required format and entry limit. Check whether each entry needs a separate postcard or envelope.
- Use sufficient ordinary postage for the item’s size and weight. A postcard is not automatically cheaper to post than a letter.
- Allow time for delivery and processing before the deadline. Posting before the deadline does not itself guarantee a valid entry.
- Keep a note of what you sent and check your account or the organiser’s confirmation process.
Check the postage before you post
You only need to write a few lines, so a postcard is usually the simplest option. It is not automatically cheaper to post than a letter, because the price depends on the service, size and weight. Check Royal Mail's current rates rather than relying on an old stamp price.
How many free entries can you get?
Organisers differ, and some limit the postal route to a single entry. On Odds Up the personal ticket allowance is shared across paid, postal and other entry routes, because the prize allocation system must not treat free and paid entrants differently. If a competition allows a maximum of 10 tickets per person, you can send 10 postcards, buy 10 tickets, or mix the two in any combination up to 10. A postal entry does not create an extra allowance.
Timing is important
Your postal entry must be received and accepted before the competition closes. Delivery estimates are not a promise that an organiser can process an entry in time, particularly near weekends, holidays or a sellout. If a competition is close to selling out or approaching its deadline, posting a card on the last day may not arrive in time. Send your postcard as early as possible after the competition goes live, and remember that posting before the deadline does not itself guarantee a valid entry.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to create an account first where the organiser needs one to match your entry.
- Writing the wrong competition name. Be precise; if the name does not match, your entry may not be processed.
- Using a different email address to the one on your account.
- Missing a required answer, or giving an incorrect answer where one is required.
- Using insufficient postage for the size and weight of the item.
- Sending your postcard too late. Allow several working days for delivery.
- Putting more than one entry on a single postcard where the rules ask for one entry per postcard.
Is it worth entering by post?
It depends on the ticket price. If a competition charges £5 per ticket, spending the price of a stamp and a postcard on a free entry is good value. If tickets are only £1, the saving is small once you count postage. For free competitions where you can enter instantly online, there is no need to use the postal route at all. The postal entry is most valuable for higher-priced competitions, and for anyone who would rather not pay to enter.
Equal chances
On Odds Up, an accepted postal entry receives tickets in the same draw pool as every other valid entry, and the draw does not distinguish between how tickets were obtained. Our guide to whether free postal entries win explains how that works in practice.
How Odds Up handles postal entries
Our free entry page is the source of truth for the address, required details, any competition questions and processing instructions. You need a registered account, and each postcard carries one entry. We process postal entries within 24 to 48 hours of receipt and send an email confirmation once your entry is live. You can enter by post up to the same per-person limit as paid entry, one postcard per entry. For free competitions across many organisers, see competition aggregator sites.