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Guides: starting a UK competition website
Practical guides for people launching a prize competition site in Great Britain: the law on lotteries and free entry, the DCMS Voluntary Code, platforms, payments, branding and marketing. Each one cites primary sources and was last reviewed on 29 October 2026.
How to start a competition website in the UK
A step-by-step guide to launching a UK prize competition website: the legal model, the DCMS Code, company set-up, platform, payments, branding and marketing.
Read guide →Prize competitions vs lotteries: staying on the right side of the law
How the Gambling Act 2005 separates lawful prize competitions and free draws from illegal lotteries: the skill test, free entry routes and instant wins.
Read guide →The DCMS Voluntary Code for prize draw operators, explained
What the DCMS Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators requires on age checks, spend limits, credit cards, draws and transparency, and how to sign up.
Read guide →Choosing a competition website platform
Why we recommend a dedicated hosted competition platform over WordPress/WooCommerce, what to check, and a factual comparison of RaffleHub, RaffleX, Comps.gg, Turbo IT, Basecomp, Rokker Prio, ByteStack.
Read guide →Taking payments on a competition website
Payment providers, credit card rules under the DCMS Code, VAT and what to ask before you apply for a merchant account for a UK prize competition site.
Read guide →Naming and branding a competition website
How to choose a name, domain and brand for a UK competition site: Companies House rules, trade marks, avoiding clashes and branding for an 18+ audience.
Read guide →Marketing rules for competition sites
CAP Code section 8, ASA guidance on social media giveaways, advertising to under-18s, Meta's gambling-and-games ad policy and publishing winners, for UK comp operators.
Read guide →Next steps: compare platforms, find a name in the marketplace, check the DCMS Code signatories, or advertise to UK operators.