New to it
What competitions actually are, which kinds exist, and how the law draws the lines.
Start with the basicsA guide for people who like a flutter of hope with their tea
Enter more calmly. Win a little more often. Expect the rest.
A long, plain-speaking guide to prize competitions in the UK. It covers how to start, how to keep going, what the odds really look like, and whether anyone is quietly paying the mortgage with hampers.
If you have ever filled in a form on a cereal packet, tapped a link for a chance at a weekend away, or written your name on a postcard because the rules said you could, you have already been comping. These pages are here to make that habit clearer, kinder to your time, and a bit more honest about luck.
The live list, ordered by closing date, is on the competitions page. This guide is the slower half.
Want a routine
A fortnight plan, a daily habit, and a simple way to track what you entered.
Build the habitCurious about odds
Why a national hamper and a judged slogan are not the same kind of chance.
Read the odds guide
How to use these pages
You do not need to read them in order, though it helps. The early pages explain the hobby. The middle pages are about habits: showing up, not burning out, and not disqualifying yourself. The later pages talk about money, scams, tax and the awkward question of whether this can be a living.
Nothing here is a promise. Competitions are mostly chance, with a few pockets where effort still matters. A good guide should make you better at the effort, and calmer about the chance. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.
