Responsible play

• 18+ only, enforced. Age confirmation at registration and checkout, and ID checks before any prize is released. Underage entries are void and refunded.
• Per-person ticket limits on every competition. Nobody can pour unlimited money into a single draw, whatever they ask us.
• Clear odds. Every competition page shows the maximum tickets and how many are sold. You always know your worst-case odds before you spend a penny.
• No dark patterns.No fake countdown resets, no rollovers, no “one more spin” mechanics, no credit purchases required to withdraw winnings.
• A genuinely free route. Every competition can be entered free by post with identical odds — spending money is never required to play.

Treat competition entries like any other entertainment spend — the cinema, a takeaway — not like an investment. A useful rule: decide a monthly amount you are entirely comfortable losing, and never chase a prize you “nearly” won. Tickets are not progress; every draw is independent.

Warning signs worth taking seriously:

• Spending more than you planned, or topping up to chase a specific prize
• Hiding entries from a partner or family
• Entering with money needed for bills, rent or debts
• Feeling anxious, irritable or low about competitions
• Borrowing to enter

Email hello@prizecrate.co.uk with the subject line “Self-exclusion” and we will close your account to new entries within 24 hours, for a minimum of 6 months or any longer period you choose. Self-exclusion is irreversible for the period you set — we will not reopen the account early, whatever you ask. We will also remove you from all marketing immediately.

If you would rather cut down than stop, ask us for a personal monthly spending cap and we will apply it to your account. You can lower a cap at any time with immediate effect; raising it takes 7 days to come into force.

These organisations help with gambling-type harms, and their support applies just as well to prize competition spending. All are free and confidential:

• GamCare — National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133 (24/7), gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware — begambleaware.org, advice and self-assessment tools
• Gamblers Anonymous UK — gamblersanonymous.org.uk, local meetings
• Samaritans — 116 123 (24/7), if things feel heavier than money
• StepChange — 0800 138 1111, free debt advice if spending has caused money problems

If you believe a family member is struggling with their spending on our site, contact us at hello@prizecrate.co.uk. We cannot share account details with you, but we can review the account for signs of harm and act on what we find. GamCare’s helpline also supports friends and family of people affected.

For how we handle your data in all of this, see our privacy policy. Self-exclusion requests are actioned by a person, not an algorithm.