Competition Website Compliance Check UK | Free Site Review
Competition Website Compliance Check (Free)
At Developer Rocket, we specialise in building and advising on UK prize competition websites, and we regularly see sites that unintentionally break compliance guidelines.
Check your competition website is compliant
Running a prize competition website in the UK is not the same as running a normal ecommerce store. Competition websites must follow specific rules around skill-based entry, free entry routes, and clear competition terms. If these elements are missing or implemented incorrectly, it can cause problems with payment providers, advertising platforms, or even the legality of the competition itself.
At Developer Rocket, we specialise in building and advising on UK prize competition websites, and we regularly see sites that unintentionally break compliance guidelines.
To help competition businesses avoid these issues, we offer a free competition website compliance check.
Competition Website Checker
What We Check
When we review your competition website, we look for the key elements that UK competition sites should have in place.
This includes checking for things such as:
A genuine skill-based question before entry
A clear free entry route that complies with UK law
Properly written terms and conditions for competitions
Transparent competition rules and draw information
Clear age restrictions (18+)
Contact details and business transparency
Payment provider compatibility
Website structure designed for competition businesses
These are the types of things payment providers like Cashflows, Stripe or PayPal often review when approving competition websites.
Why Compliance Matters for Competition Websites
Competition websites in the UK sit in a unique legal category. They must clearly operate as prize competitions or free draws, rather than lotteries.
If the site is not set up correctly, it can lead to issues such as:
Payment accounts being restricted
Advertising campaigns being rejected
Customers questioning the legitimacy of competitions
Competitions being considered non-compliant
Getting the structure right from the start helps avoid these problems and ensures the website runs smoothly.
Check your competition website is compliant
Who This Is For
Our compliance check is useful for:
New competition websites launching in the UK
Existing competition businesses unsure if their setup is compliant
Businesses having trouble with payment providers
Competition sites wanting a professional second opinion
Request a Free Competition Website Review
If you run a competition website and want to make sure everything is set up correctly, we’re happy to take a look.
Simply send us your website and we will manually review it.
We will reply with feedback highlighting any potential issues and suggestions for improvement.
Request your free competition website compliance check below.
About Developer Rocket
Developer Rocket specialises in building competition websites and prize draw platforms. We understand the unique requirements involved in ticket systems, instant win mechanics, payment provider approval and competition compliance.
If you need help launching or improving a competition website, we can design and build a solution tailored specifically for this industry.
Common Compliance Mistakes Competition Websites Make
Many competition websites in the UK are created using standard ecommerce platforms such as WordPress or Shopify. While these platforms make it easy to sell products online, running a prize competition website involves additional requirements that are often overlooked.
Below are some of the most common compliance mistakes we see when reviewing competition websites.
No Genuine Skill Question
To operate legally as a prize competition in the UK, the entry process should include a genuine element of skill, knowledge or judgement.
Some websites include very basic questions that are too easy or allow unlimited retries, which may not meet the intended purpose of distinguishing a competition from a lottery.
A properly implemented skill question should form part of the entry process and should not be easily bypassed.
Missing or Hidden Free Entry Route
Many UK competition websites must offer a free entry route, typically by post. This route should be clearly explained and accessible to customers.
A common mistake is hiding this information in hard-to-find areas of the website or not explaining the process clearly. Transparency around free entry helps demonstrate that the competition is operating as intended.
Poorly Written Competition Terms and Conditions
Competition websites should provide clear terms and conditions covering how the competition works, how winners are selected, and what happens in different scenarios.
Common issues include:
No dedicated competition terms page
Missing rules around maximum entries
No explanation of how winners are chosen
Lack of information about the draw process
Clear terms help build trust with both customers and payment providers.
No Clear Draw Date or Winner Information
Visitors should be able to easily understand when the competition ends and when the winner will be drawn.
If this information is unclear or inconsistent across the website, it can create confusion for customers and may reduce trust in the competition.
Missing Business Information
Legitimate competition businesses should provide basic company information such as:
Company name
Registered address
Contact email or support page
Without clear business details, customers may question the credibility of the website.
Problems With Payment Provider Approval
Payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal often review competition websites before allowing them to operate fully.
If the site appears to be running a lottery rather than a prize competition, payment accounts may be restricted or rejected. Ensuring the website is structured correctly from the start can help avoid these problems.
Poor Transparency for Customers
Trust is extremely important for competition websites. Visitors want to know that competitions are fair and legitimate.
Common transparency issues include:
No information about previous winners
Lack of explanation about how draws are conducted
No visible competition rules
Providing clear information about how competitions work helps build confidence in the brand.