Short answer: many are lawful when structured correctly, but there are
important rules around gambling, lotteries and prize competitions.
This guide is intentionally high-level and not legal advice. If you're
launching your own site you should speak to a qualified solicitor or
compliance specialist.
Prize competitions vs lotteries
UK law distinguishes between:
Lotteries, which are generally regulated gambling products; and
Prize competitions, which can be exempt where there is sufficient skill,
judgement or knowledge involved.
Most commercial “raffle” sites describe themselves as prize competitions.
What this means for players
As a player:
Check that the operator clearly explains how the competition works
Look for a real registered business you can identify
Read the terms, including significant terms and any free-entry route
Treat entries as discretionary spending, not investment or savings
RaffleCompare does not provide legal opinions. We simply summarise public
information and manual checks across UK-facing operators.