How to play
Three steps, and a free way in on every single competition.
Pick a competition
Every one shows its entry price, total entries, closing date and exactly how the winner is decided — before you enter, not after.
Enter, or play
Some are a straight draw. Some ask you to place a mark or pick your numbers. Buy more entries to place more marks and cover more ground.
Find out
Instant wins are revealed the moment you enter. Draws are settled at the published time and the result goes up the same day.
Enter free by post
No purchase necessary, on any competition. Send your name, address, date of birth and the competition name on an unenclosed postcard to:
Freepost THE POOLS PRIZES
One entry per postcard. It must arrive before the competition closes. Postal entries have exactly the same chance of winning as paid entries.
Questions people ask us
Can I enter without paying?
Yes, on every competition. Send your name, address, date of birth and the competition name on an unenclosed postcard to Freepost THE POOLS PRIZES. One entry per postcard, and it must arrive before the closing date. Free entries have exactly the same chance of winning as paid ones, and there is no limit on how many you send.
How is a skill competition judged?
A panel of three independent judges decides the answer after entries close. That means there is no answer sitting somewhere to look up, and no photograph to reverse-search. The panel's decision is final and the judges' full names are available on request.
When and how do I get paid if I win?
We ring you first, then pay by bank transfer within seven days. We never ask you for a fee, an admin charge or a payment of any kind to release a prize. If anyone contacts you claiming to be us and asks for money, it is not us.
What are the odds?
Every competition has a fixed maximum number of entries, so the odds can never get worse than the figure shown on its page. The number sold so far is shown against each one.
Are the prizes actually funded?
Every prize is paid for before its competition opens. Closing dates are fixed once published and are never extended, and a competition is never drawn for less than the prize advertised.