There’s no secret trick to winning a prize competition — the winning ticket is chosen at random, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What you can do is understand how your chance is worked out and make choices that give you a better shot for your money. Here’s how.
1. Understand the simple maths
Your chance of winning a main draw is:
your tickets ÷ total tickets in the draw
So 5 tickets in a competition capped at 1,000 tickets is a 1 in 200 chance if it sells out. The same 5 tickets in a competition capped at 100,000 is 1 in 20,000. Same spend, very different chance.
| Your tickets | Ticket cap | Your chance if it sells out |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1,000 | 1 in 200 |
| 5 | 10,000 | 1 in 2,000 |
| 5 | 100,000 | 1 in 20,000 |
| 20 | 10,000 | 1 in 500 |
2. Choose smaller competitions
Look at the maximum number of tickets on every competition page. Smaller competitions for modest prizes often give you a much better chance than headline prizes with huge caps. If a modest car or a cash prize would make you just as happy, it can be the smarter entry.
3. Look at how many tickets have actually sold
If a competition doesn’t sell out, the real number of entries can be lower than the cap. The competition page shows how many tickets have gone so far, which tells you how busy the draw is likely to be.
4. Use instant wins
Competitions with instant-win prizes give you two chances from one ticket: an instant prize the moment you buy, plus the main draw. Competitions with lots of instant prizes produce many more winners overall. Check which instant prizes are still available before you enter.
5. Never lose an entry on the skill question
A wrong answer means that entry doesn’t count — paid or free. Take a moment, read the question properly and check your answer. It’s the easiest entry to throw away.
6. Use the free postal route
A free postcard entry goes into the same draw on equal terms. It won’t change the maths, but it adds entries without spending more than a stamp. See our free postal entry guide and the instructions in our terms.
7. Set a budget, and keep it
The best strategy is one you’re still happy with if you don’t win. Decide how much you’re comfortable spending each month, spread it across competitions you genuinely want to win, and stop when you reach it. If it stops being fun, take a break — our responsible play page explains the options.
Myths to ignore
- “Buying at a certain time helps.” It doesn’t — the draw is random.
- “Some numbers are luckier.” Every ticket has the same chance.
- “You’re due a win.” Each draw is independent of the last.
Because every Nitrous main draw is live and every entry list is published on the results page, you can see for yourself that the draw is random.
Choose your next competition wisely. Browse the live competitions, watch a live draw or check past winners and entry lists. 18+ UK only. Please play responsibly — see our responsible play page.