“Prize competition”, “lottery” and “raffle” get used loosely, but in the UK they mean different things — and the difference matters. Here’s a plain-English explanation of how they compare.
What is a prize competition?
A prize competition requires an element of genuine skill, knowledge or judgement to enter — that’s the skill question you answer before your entry counts. Because winning depends partly on that skill (not on pure chance), a properly run prize competition sits outside the definition of a lottery under UK law. It must also offer a free entry route.
What is a lottery?
A lottery allocates prizes purely by chance, with no skill element. Lotteries are regulated separately in the UK and generally require a licence or must be run as an exempt society or charity lottery. The key marker is simple: if success depends on chance alone, it’s a lottery.
What is a raffle?
A raffle is a type of lottery — you buy a numbered ticket and a winning number is drawn at random, with no skill involved. People often call online prize competitions “raffles” casually, but a genuine prize competition differs because of that required skill element.
Quick comparison
- Prize competition — skill element required, free entry route, lawful when run correctly.
- Lottery — pure chance, separately regulated, needs a licence or exemption.
- Raffle — a form of lottery; numbered tickets, drawn by chance, no skill.
Where Nitrous fits
Nitrous Competitions runs skill-based prize competitions: you answer a genuine skill question, there’s always a free postal entry route, and every draw is backed by a published entry list you can check. It’s a competition of skill, not a game of chance.
Want to see how it works? Browse the live competitions or read our FAQ. 18+, UK only. Please play responsibly.