Writing Competition Terms & Conditions

Owned by Sophie Cooper
Oct 31, 2024
3 min read

Competitions are great to engage your community, here's a guide on ensuring yours meet your region/state’s legal requirements.

What are they? 
Terms and conditions are the terms on which a company trades with their customers. They are particularly useful in protecting your position if things go wrong and you end up in a dispute with your customer. 

Are they suitable for me? 
All companies would benefit from a bespoke set of T&Cs in order to protect their position with their customers, particularly if you’re running competitions or giveaways via your platform.

Writing terms and conditions for a competition: 
Your terms should include things like who is eligible, what the prize consists of, the time frame for the competition, and how will winners be chosen and/or announced. Not only will this cover your back, but whenever you have users asking you questions about the competition you can direct them straight to the T&Cs.

Disclaimer:

The below competition terms & conditions are examples only, and you should seek advice from your own legal & compliance team and/or representatives as to if appropriate for your specific use case. Provision of this document does not constitute legal advice, and Equiem does not accept any liability arising from the use of the following, which have been issued by way of example only.

Competitions are regulated differently in each country, region, and Australian State and Terrority – please be aware different jurisdictions may have differing requirements, licensing (typically for higher value competitions), and/or restrictions. 

Example T&C templates

Example template: Game of Skill

Entrants use skill, winner based on best or most accurate result or answer.

Terms and conditions:

  • Competition opens at [TIME] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR].

  • Competition closes at [TIME] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR].

  • This competition is open to [members/customers] of [PLATFORM NAME] only.

  • One (1) entry per person [OR] Multiple entries permitted.

  • To enter, [DETAILS, e.g. answer the competition question in the comments section of this post].

  • [IF 1 WINNER] Prize is [DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[VALUE] RRP.

  • [IF 2 + WINNERS] Total prize pool is [DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[X] RRP each. Total prize value is $/£/€[X] RRP.

  • Entries will be individually judged on ingenuity, originality and creative merit as well as [INSERT ADDITIONAL CRITERIA].

  • [Building Management OR Your Community Manager] will select a winner at their own discretion.

  • The judging will take place at [INSERT FULL STREET ADDRESS] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR] at [INSERT TIME AND TIME ZONE]. The Promoter may choose additional reserve entries and record them in case of an invalid entry or ineligible entrant.

  • The first [INSERT NUMBER OF WINNERS IF MORE THAN ONE] valid entry chosen will win [PRIZE].

  • [IF AWARDING A PRIZE FOR SECOND, THIRD, ETC.] The next [INSERT NUMBER OF WINNERS] valid entry/entries chosen will win [PRIZE DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[INSERT RETAIL VALUE OF PRIZE].

  • The winner[s] will be notified in writing within two (2) business days and their name[s] will be published on the platform.

  • Prizes, or any unused portion of a prize, are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash, unless otherwise specified.

  • For additional terms and conditions refer to our platform user terms and conditions. 

Example template: Game of Chance

A lottery or winner selected at random.

Terms and conditions:

  • Competition opens at [TIME] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR].

  • Competition closes at [TIME] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR].

  • This competition is open to members of [PLATFORM NAME] only.

  • One (1) entry per person [OR] Multiple entries permitted.

  • To enter, [DETAILS].

  • [IF 1 WINNER] Prize is [DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[VALUE] RRP.

  • [IF 2 + WINNERS] Total prize pool is [DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[X] RRP each. Total prize value is $/£/€[X] RRP.

  • The draw will take place at [INSERT NAME OF COMPANY CONDUCTING THE DRAW AND FULL STREET ADDRESS OF DRAW] on [DAY DATE MONTH YEAR] at [INSERT TIME AND TIME ZONE]. The Promoter may draw additional reserve entries and record them in case of an invalid entry or ineligible entrant.

  • The first [INSERT NUMBER OF WINNERS IF MORE THAN ONE] valid entry/entries drawn will win [PRIZE DETAILS].

  • [IF AWARDING SECOND OR THIRD PRIZES, ETC.] The next [INSERT NUMBER OF WINNERS] valid [ENTRY/ENTRIES] drawn will win [PRIZE DETAILS], valued at $/£/€[INSERT RETAIL VALUE OF PRIZE].

  • The winner(s) will be notified in writing within two (2) business days of the draw, and their name(s) will be published on the platform.

  • Prizes, or any unused portion of a prize, are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash, unless otherwise specified.

  • For additional terms and conditions refer to our platform user terms and conditions.