---
title: "Competition Terms and Conditions Template + Checklist"
description: "A free competition terms and conditions template with [placeholders], plus a checklist and giveaway rules tips. A starting point to check with your lawyer."
url: https://scratcher.io/blog/competition-terms-and-conditions-checklist
language: en
---

# Competition Terms and Conditions: Checklist and Template

A copyable competition terms and conditions template with placeholders, a checklist of what to include and the differences between instant wins and prize draws.

Casper Christiansen 13 min read February 24, 2026

![Competition Terms and Conditions: Checklist and Template](https://scratcher.io/img/containers/assets/blog/covers/competition-terms-and-conditions-template.webp/4df87f89f1d87ad2cd93591d0ab917e8/competition-terms-and-conditions-template.webp)

Not legal advice

This article is general information about rules and practice as we understood them when it was written. It is not legal or tax advice, rules differ between countries and change over time, and Scratcher ApS accepts no liability for decisions based on it. Have your competition, terms and data handling checked by a lawyer or accountant in your country before you launch.

A competition terms and conditions template is a set of clauses with gaps you fill in: who runs the competition, who can enter, the dates, how to enter, the prizes, how winners are chosen and contacted, and how personal data is used. Below you'll find a copyable template with \[placeholders\], a checklist to make sure nothing is missing, and the points that change between instant wins and prize draws.

Every competition needs terms, and writing them from a blank page takes time. A template gets you most of the way, as long as you treat it as a first draft. The rules for promotions differ between countries and change over time, so the last step is always the same: have a lawyer check the terms for the countries you run the competition in.

> **Important: this template is a starting point, not legal advice.** It shows the clauses competition terms usually contain. It does not make your terms compliant with the law in your country. Fill in the placeholders, delete what doesn't apply, and have a lawyer review the result before you launch.

## What competition terms usually cover

Good giveaway rules answer the questions a participant or a winner is likely to ask:

- **Who is running the competition** and how to contact them
- **Who can take part**, and who can't
- **When the competition starts and ends**
- **How to enter**, and how many times
- **What the prizes are** and how many there are
- **How winners are chosen** and contacted
- **How personal data is used**
- **What happens if something goes wrong**

Some of this is a legal requirement in many places, not just good practice. In the UK, for example, the advertising code (the CAP Code) lists the [significant conditions a promotion must state](https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/08.html), including how to take part, the closing date, the number and nature of prizes, restrictions such as age or location, and the promoter's name and address. For prize promotions it also asks you to say how and when winners will be told. If you run competitions in the UK, read our guide to the [difference between a prize draw and a competition](https://scratcher.io/blog/prize-draw-vs-competition-uk) too, because the mechanic changes which rules apply.

## Competition terms and conditions template

Copy the template below into your own document. Replace everything in \[square brackets\], and delete clauses that don't fit your competition. The wording is deliberately plain, so participants can understand it on a phone.

```text
[COMPETITION NAME] – TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. ORGANISER 1.1 The competition is run by [Company name], [company registration number], [full postal address] ("we", "us"). 1.2 Questions about the competition can be sent to [email address]. 2. WHO CAN ENTER 2.1 The competition is open to people aged [18] or over who live in [country/countries]. 2.2 Employees of [Company name], [partner/agency names], their close family members and anyone else professionally involved in the competition cannot enter. 2.3 We may ask a winner to confirm their age, identity and place of residence before the prize is handed over. 3. ENTRY PERIOD 3.1 The competition opens on [date] at [time] and closes on [date] at [time] ([time zone]). 3.2 Entries received outside the entry period will not count. 4. HOW TO ENTER 4.1 To enter, play the game at [URL] and fill in the entry form with [name, email address, other fields]. 4.2 Entry is free. No purchase is necessary. [Or: describe any purchase or proof-of-purchase requirement.] 4.3 Each person may enter [once / once per day / up to X times]. [Playing more often does not / does change the chance of winning.] 4.4 Only one entry per email address [or phone number] counts. 4.5 Entries made with automated tools, fake or disposable email addresses, other people's details or multiple identities are invalid. We may disqualify such entries without notice. 5. PRIZES 5.1 The prizes are: [number] x [prize description, value incl. VAT where relevant]. [Add consolation prizes, e.g. a discount code for every participant.] 5.2 [Discount codes are valid until [date] and cannot be combined with other offers.] 5.3 Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash [unless stated otherwise]. 5.4 If a prize becomes unavailable for reasons outside our control, we may replace it with a prize of similar or higher value. 5.5 [Any tax or duty on prizes is handled by [us/the winner]. Check the current rules in your country.] 6. HOW WINNERS ARE CHOSEN 6.1 [Instant win: Prizes are allocated at random when people play. There are [number] prizes in total, spread over the entry period as follows: [description].] 6.2 [Prize draw: Winners are drawn at random from all valid entries on [date/dates]. The draw is made [by our competition software / by an independent person].] 6.3 [Skill competition: Entries are judged by [who] on the basis of [criteria]. In case of a tie, [tiebreaker].] 7. NOTIFICATION AND CLAIMING A PRIZE 7.1 Winners are contacted by [email/phone] within [number] days of the draw. 7.2 A winner must reply within [number] days to claim the prize. If they don't, we may choose another winner. 7.3 Prizes are delivered [how] within [number] days of the winner confirming their details. 7.4 We are not responsible if a prize cannot be delivered because the winner gave wrong contact details. 8. PUBLICITY 8.1 [We will publish the winners' [name] and [town/county] on [where]. You can object to this by writing to [email].] 8.2 [We may ask winners to take part in publicity. Taking part is voluntary.] 9. PERSONAL DATA 9.1 [Company name] is responsible for the personal data collected in the competition. 9.2 We use your data to run the competition, contact winners and deliver prizes. [If you separately agree to receive marketing, we also use your data for that purpose. You can withdraw your consent at any time.] 9.3 You can read how we process personal data, how long we keep it and what your rights are in our privacy policy: [link to privacy policy]. 10. LIABILITY, CHANGES AND CANCELLATION 10.1 We are not responsible for entries that are lost, delayed or not registered because of technical problems outside our control. 10.2 If the competition cannot run as planned, for example because of fraud, technical failure or circumstances outside our control, we may change, pause or cancel it. Changes are published at [URL]. 10.3 Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law. 11. SOCIAL MEDIA (delete if not relevant) 11.1 This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with [Instagram/Facebook/Meta]. By entering, you release [Instagram/Facebook/Meta] from any liability in connection with the competition. 12. GOVERNING LAW 12.1 These terms are governed by the laws of [country]. [Add the courts or complaint bodies that apply, as advised by your lawyer.] Last updated: [date]
```

### Notes on the template

- **Clause 4.5 matters more than it looks.** It gives you the right to remove fake and automated entries before you draw winners. Read our guide to [stopping giveaway fraud](https://scratcher.io/blog/competition-lead-quality) for the settings that keep most of them out in the first place.
- **Clause 6 has three options.** Keep the one that matches your mechanic and delete the others. If you combine an instant win with a draw, keep both.
- **Clause 9 is a summary, not a privacy policy.** Link to your full privacy policy, and keep marketing consent out of the terms (more on that below). Our guide to [competitions and GDPR](https://scratcher.io/blog/competitions-and-gdpr) explains what to think about.
- **Clause 11 only applies if you promote on Facebook or Instagram.** Meta's [Pages, Groups and Events Policies](https://www.facebook.com/policies_center/pages_groups_events/) ask the person running a promotion to include a release of Meta by each participant and an acknowledgement that the promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta. Read our [Instagram giveaway rules](https://scratcher.io/blog/instagram-giveaway-rules) before you run one there.

Want a draft with your own details filled in? The free [competition terms generator](https://scratcher.io/competition-terms-generator) builds one from a short form. Check it against the list below before you publish.

## Checklist: what to check before you publish

Use this checklist on your filled-in template, or to check a draft from your lawyer or agency.

### 1. Organiser

- Company name, registration number and postal address
- A contact email that someone actually reads during the competition
- The platforms the competition runs on, and a note that they don't sponsor it

### 2. Eligibility

- Age limit and countries or regions
- Exclusions for employees, partners, agencies and their families
- Whether you can ask winners to prove age or identity

### 3. Dates

- Start and end date, time and time zone
- What happens to entries outside the period
- Draw dates, if there is a draw

### 4. How to enter

- Where and how people enter, and which details they give
- Whether entry is free or linked to a purchase
- How many times each person can enter, and whether more plays change the odds
- Which entries are invalid, and that you can disqualify them

### 5. Prizes

- What the prizes are and how many there are of each
- Consolation prizes and how long discount codes are valid
- What happens if a prize is unavailable, and whether there is a cash alternative
- Who handles any tax or duty (check with your adviser)

### 6. Winners

- How winners are chosen: at random, at the moment of play or by a judge
- How and when winners are contacted
- How long winners have to claim, and what happens if they don't
- How and when prizes are delivered
- Whether winners' names are published, and how to object

### 7. Data

- Who is responsible for the personal data
- What the data is used for
- A link to your privacy policy
- Marketing consent asked for separately, not hidden in the terms

### 8. Liability and changes

- What happens if technical problems or fraud affect the competition
- When you can change, pause or cancel it, and where changes are published

### 9. Law

- Which country's law applies (ask your lawyer)
- The date the terms were last updated

## Instant win vs prize draw

The mechanic changes what you need to explain. If you're not sure which to pick, read our comparison of instant wins and prize draws.

### Instant win

Scratch cards, wheels and mystery boxes tell people right away whether they've won. Cover:

- The **total number of prizes** and how they're spread over the period
- How results are **decided** when the game is played
- What happens to **prizes that aren't won** before the end
- Whether the game's claims match the set-up. If the page says "everyone wins", there must be a prize for everyone

### Prize draw

Calendars and sign-up competitions often collect entries and pick winners later. Cover:

- The **date of each draw** and how winners are picked
- Whether one entry per person or **multiple entries** count
- How and when **winners are contacted**, and how long they have to reply

Many campaigns combine the two: an instant consolation prize for everyone, plus a grand prize draw at the end. In Scratcher, you set up both on the [prizes page](https://scratcher.io/platform/prizes): how many of each prize can be won, when they can be won and how often each person can play. Draws can run automatically daily, weekly, monthly or at the end, and winners and entries can be exported. Our guide on [how to pick a giveaway winner](https://scratcher.io/blog/how-to-pick-a-giveaway-winner) covers the draw itself.

## Showing the terms in the game

The best terms are useless if nobody can find them.

- **Link the terms from the entry form**, next to the button people press to play.
- **Keep consent separate.** Many brands use one checkbox for accepting the terms and a separate, unticked checkbox for marketing consent. Check with your adviser what fits your set-up.
- **Show the essentials on screen.** Prize, closing date and organiser should be visible without opening the terms.
- **Make it readable on a phone.** Most people play on one.

In Scratcher, the text next to a checkbox in the sign-up form can link to your terms, either on your own website or on a separate page inside the campaign. You write the terms yourself and are responsible for their content. Every one of our 150+ templates can be set up this way.

## Common mistakes

- **Mixing up the terms and marketing consent.** Accepting the terms and agreeing to marketing are two different things.
- **Missing organiser details.** Make it easy to see who is behind the competition.
- **"Win an iPhone" with no number.** Say how many prizes there are.
- **No closing date or draw date.** People need to know when it's over.
- **No clause on invalid entries.** Without it, it's harder to remove fake entries before the draw.
- **Tagging or sharing as an entry condition.** Platform rules and authority views differ, so check the current rules before you use these mechanics.
- **No data processing agreement.** If a tool collects entries for you, it processes personal data on your behalf. Scratcher offers a data processing agreement as standard.
- **Copying another brand's terms.** Their prizes, markets and data set-up differ from yours.

## FAQ

### Can I just copy this template and use it?

Use it as a first draft. Fill in the placeholders, delete what doesn't apply and have a lawyer check it for the countries you run the competition in. Rules on promotions, consent and prize tax differ between countries.

### Do I need terms for a small Instagram giveaway?

Yes, it's good practice for any giveaway, and Meta's policies expect the person running a promotion to follow the law and include specific wording. A short version of the template above, with clause 11, is a good start. See our Instagram giveaway rules.

### Where should I publish the terms?

On a page people can open before they enter, linked from the entry form. That can be a page on your website or a page inside the campaign.

### Should marketing consent be part of the terms?

Keep it separate. Ask for marketing consent with its own checkbox and explain what people sign up for. The GDPR guide for competitions goes through the details.

### Who checks that the winner is real?

You do. Your terms should give you the right to verify winners and disqualify invalid entries, and you should check the winners list before you contact anyone.

## From terms to a live competition

Fill in the template, run through the checklist, and send both to your lawyer. When the terms are ready, add them to your campaign and link them from the entry form. Our guide on [how to run an online competition](https://scratcher.io/blog/how-to-run-an-online-competition) covers the rest, from prize to promotion, and our page on [online competitions](https://scratcher.io/platform/competitions) shows how it works in Scratcher.

Ready to build? [Start a free 14-day trial](https://scratcher.io/get-started), no credit card needed, or [book a meeting](https://scratcher.io/book-a-meeting) and we'll help you set up prizes, draws and consent checkboxes.

*This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between countries and change over time, so check the current rules and get legal advice before you launch a campaign.*

Casper Christiansen

Co-founder & CEO, Scratcher

Casper Christiansen co-founded Scratcher in Copenhagen in 2017 and leads the company as CEO.

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