Editorial note: this guide is general information about how bingo, competitions, lotteries and gambling work in the UK. It is not advice, and it does not describe any specific promotion offered by Fortune Games. Rules, prices and regulations can change, so always check the operator’s current terms.
What is the difference between a competition and a giveaway?
The practical difference is what you give to take part. A prize competition usually involves paying to enter and answering a question or showing some skill, run as a business in its own right. A giveaway is a free promotional draw — typically on social media — where a brand awards a prize to publicise itself, with entry costing nothing more than a follow, like or comment. Both are legal, but they sit under different rules.
How each one works
Paid competitions avoid being lotteries by requiring genuine skill, judgement or knowledge, or by offering a free entry route alongside paid tickets; the prize is the product, and revenue comes from entries. A giveaway is marketing: entry is free for everyone, winners are picked at random, and the cost of the prize is the brand’s advertising spend. That is why giveaways can ask you to tag a friend or share a post, while competitions publish ticket prices, entry caps and draw methods.
The rules behind each
Neither needs a gambling licence when run properly — free draws and genuine skill competitions sit outside gambling law. Both, though, must follow the advertising rules: significant terms up front, no misleading claims, winners genuinely awarded, and the promoter named. Social platforms add their own requirements for giveaways, such as stating the promotion is not sponsored by the platform. From an entrant’s side, the same habits protect you in both: read the terms, check the closing date and judging or draw method, and be wary of any “win” that asks you to pay to receive a prize.
Frequently asked questions
Is a giveaway the same as a prize draw?
Essentially yes — a giveaway is a free prize draw used for promotion, usually on social media, with winners picked at random and entry costing nothing.
Why do competitions charge but giveaways don’t?
A competition is a business whose revenue is ticket sales, kept lawful by skill or a free route. A giveaway is marketing — the brand funds the prize to gain attention.
Do giveaways need a gambling licence?
No. Free draws sit outside gambling law, as do genuine skill competitions. Both must still follow advertising and consumer rules on fairness and transparency.
How do I spot a fake giveaway?
Check for a named promoter, clear terms and a closing date, and real announced winners. Requests for payment, card details or codes to receive a prize are scam signs.
Related guides: Raffle vs prize competition · What is a free prize draw? · Are prize competitions legal?
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, never a way to make money. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare. You can also visit BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) or self-exclude from UK-licensed online operators through GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk).