Millionaire Mansion - no free postal entry?

Chef_Al

I looked at this competition https://millionairemansion.co.uk/ and could see no free postal entry route. I made an enquiry (not straightforward at all) and got this reply "unfortunately there is no free entry! You will need to purchase a ticket to be part of this competition and for part of your ticket to be donated to charity."

I'm wondering if this is legal but can't find the relevant legislation, anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

mjm3346

There does not have to be a free entry route, depends how it is set up

mjm3346

By the looks of this they are running it as a Prize Competition (where a free entry route is not required)

What is a prize competition?
A genuine prize competition is one where the
outcome is determined by the application of
skill, judgement or knowledge. Under the Act
a genuine prize competition is one run in such
a way that the organisers believe that the
requirement for skill, knowledge or judgement
will either:
► deter a significant proportion of those who wish
to enter from doing so, or
► prevent a significant proportion of those who
do enter from winning a prize.

Rather than a Free Draw with a paid entry route which is what ITV etc often are (where free entry must be offered as an alternative to the paid route).

Under the Act there are two types of free draw. The first is
where all entries are free, and the second is where there is
both a paid and free entry route. The Act defines ‘free’ as
any method of communication charged at the normal rate,
and specifically mentions the use of first or second class post.
‘Normal rate’ means that there can be no additional payment
over what it normally costs to use a particular method of
communication. For example, special delivery is not classed
as free.


If you choose to run a free draw with a paid entry route, you must ensure that:
► people can genuinely choose to take part without paying
► the free entry route is no more expensive or no less
convenient than the paid route and charged at its normal rate
► the choice is publicised so that it is likely to come to the
attention of anyone intending to participate
► the system for allocating prizes does not distinguish between either route.

(I believe the question is far too easy to deter people from entering or prevent a significant number of those who do enter from getting it right therefore it should be a Free Draw and have a free entry option)