# A practical checklist before entering a competition

Before entering, check who runs the promotion, what is offered, how each entry route works and whether the choice fits your own limits. Unanswered questions are a reason to pause. Completing a checklist does not certify a draw or guarantee a prize.

Publisher: Competition Group Ltd
Canonical: https://compapp.co.uk/guides/competition-entry-checklist
Published: 2026-09-11
Sources checked: 2026-09-11
Audience: adults 18+

## 1. Identify the operator

Write down the website address, legal business name and support contact. Check that the terms refer to the same business. If a company number or code-signatory claim is used, compare it with the original register or list.

Keep the source URL and the date you checked, rather than just the logo or a cropped screenshot. Our [operator-checking guide](https://compapp.co.uk/guides/check-a-competition-website) explains what these checks can and cannot establish.

## 2. Read the entry and prize details



- Prize: exact model, condition or value description, any alternative, delivery costs and restrictions.
- Eligibility: minimum age, accepted locations, account requirements and per-person entry limits.
- Entry routes: paid price and any free route, instructions, receipt deadlines and confirmation process.
- Dates: when entry closes, when the draw happens and how the result is announced.
- Selection: how valid entries are included, how the winner is chosen and how a prize is claimed.

## 3. Make your spending decision separately

Decide whether to spend before looking at a countdown or bundle offer. Include spending across different operators, rather than treating each account as a fresh allowance. Do not use money needed for essentials or borrow to enter.

There is no universal amount that makes participation safe. A limit is a ceiling, not a target. If spending or time already feels difficult to control, pause and use [support information](https://compapp.co.uk/safer-participation#support) instead of completing another entry.

## 4. Keep a short record



A reusable comparison sheet — use your browser’s Print or Save as PDF

| Record | Your notes |
| --- | --- |
| Operator and source URL | ________________________________ |
| Terms checked on | ________________________________ |
| Prize and material restrictions | ________________________________ |
| Entry route and total cost | ________________________________ |
| Entry deadline and time zone | ________________________________ |
| Draw and notification process | ________________________________ |
| Unanswered questions | ________________________________ |
| My decision, including not entering | ________________________________ |

## 5. Keep confirmation, if you choose to enter

Retain the confirmation and terms that apply to your entry. Revisit the known operator site directly if an unexpected message says you have won. Verify messages independently rather than following a payment link under pressure.

The Comp App does not sell entries or resolve operator payments. For incorrect app details, send our support team the listing URL and what differs. For an entry or prize query, contact the operator using its published process.

## Sources and further reading

- [CAP Code, section 8: promotional marketing](https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/08.html)
- [Citizens Advice: check if something might be a scam](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/)
- [DCMS: Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-code-of-good-practice-for-prize-draw-operators/voluntary-code-of-good-practice-for-prize-draw-operators)

[Editorial standards and corrections](https://compapp.co.uk/editorial-standards)