PRIZE DRAW STANDRADS
Voluntary Code for Prize Draw Operators
What Does the VC Icon Mean?
You may notice a small VC icon next to some competition operators on RaffleRadar.
VC stands for Voluntary Code, and the icon means that the operator is listed as a signatory to the UK Government's Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators.
The Code has been developed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) alongside the prize draw industry, with the aim of improving player protection, transparency and accountability across the sector.
What is the Voluntary Code?
The Voluntary Code of Good Practice applies mainly to prize draw operators offering both paid and free entry routes in Great Britain.
Operators that sign the Code agree to follow a range of standards covering how their competitions are operated, advertised and presented to players.
The Code is built around three main areas:
Player Protection
Signatories agree to measures designed to encourage safer participation. These include:
- Making prize draws available only to people aged 18 or over
- Using reasonable age verification measures
- Providing spending limits or allowing players to set their own limits
- Providing options to suspend or close an account
- Monitoring activity for potential signs of harm
- Signposting players towards appropriate support where needed
- Marketing prize draws responsibly
Transparency
The Code also introduces standards designed to make competitions easier for players to understand.
These include:
- Clearly explaining how each draw works
- Providing information about how winners are selected
- Ensuring paid and free entries have an equal chance of winning
- Making free entry routes clear and accessible
- Providing information that helps players understand their chances of winning
- Awarding the advertised prize, or a reasonable cash alternative
- Not reducing prizes, cancelling draws or extending closing dates simply because ticket sales are lower than expected
Accountability
Operators signing the Code are also expected to monitor their own compliance and publish information about the measures they have put in place.
They are encouraged to work with other operators, share good practice and take reasonable steps to ensure relevant third parties working with them also follow the Code.
What Does the VC Badge on RaffleRadar Mean?
When you see the VC icon next to an operator on RaffleRadar, it indicates that the operator appears on the official DCMS list of signatories to the Voluntary Code of Good Practice.
It gives you another useful piece of information when comparing competition operators.
VC = Operator listed as a signatory to the Voluntary Code of Good Practice
However, the VC badge should not be viewed as a guarantee, rating or endorsement from RaffleRadar.
The Code is voluntary and signing it is not the same as holding a gambling licence or receiving formal approval from the Government. Prize draws offering a genuine free entry route can operate outside the Gambling Act 2005 licensing system, provided they meet the relevant legal requirements.
Operators must also continue to comply with other applicable requirements, including consumer protection, advertising and data protection rules.
Why Are We Showing It?
RaffleRadar is designed to make the UK competition market easier to compare.
Alongside information such as ticket prices, total tickets, live odds, sold percentages and operator reviews, we think it's useful for players to be able to quickly see which operators have signed up to the industry's Voluntary Code.
The VC icon makes that information visible without you having to search through the Government's full list of signatories yourself.
It doesn't tell you whether you should enter a competition — it simply gives you another piece of information to help you make your own decision.
Want to Read the Full Code?
You can read the complete Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators and view the current list of signatories on the official GOV.UK website.