Certified Prize Competitions™

Trust Mark Standards Framework

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Certified Prize Competitions™ is the trust framework for the prize competition industry. Its purpose is to set the minimum standards of fairness, empowerment, and impact, raising the bar for how competitions operate. 

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This framework is built on three core pillars:

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1. Fair Participation Guarantee™

2. Empowered Participation™

3. The Impact Promise™

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Only competitions that uphold all three pillars in full may be recognised as a Certified Prize Competition Site Owner™ platform. Prize competition sites that operate by the Trustmark Framework uphold the three pillars uphold the Fair Participation Guarantee, Empowered Participation and The Impact Promise. 

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The Fair Participation Guarantee™  

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   ''Fairness isn’t optional, it’s essential.'' ''Your Trust. Your Chance. Our Promise.​''

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• Transparency: Clear details are published about how each competition works including the entry price, draw dates and times & when draws will take place on every description of every product. Competitions should also highlight the maximum number of tickets available. 

• Equal Opportunity: Every valid Entry has the same fair chance of winning the prize regardless of how many tickets you buy. All draws are done using random generators or Independently Verified Systems. 

• No Inside Entries: Friends and family of the same household and promoters are not allowed to enter our competitions. Immediate family of staff or directors are also excluded. This keeps everything 100% transparent, unbiased and in the hands of the public where it belongs.

• Guaranteed Draws: Whether a competition sells out or not, all draws are guaranteed and go ahead as promised. Where there is a technical or listing issue and a competition is cancelled or extended, the reasons for this are provided publicly. Information with regards to where and how the draws will take place should be visible.

• Real Winners, Real People and Real Prizes: Winners displayed publicly are real, actors are not used. Competition draws are never staged, rigged or influenced. 

• Prize Delivery: Operators should ensure that prizes are delivered to the winner within a reasonable timeframe (within 7 working days). 

• Respectful and Positive Community: Prize competition operators provide a safe and supportive space where all participants are treated with kindness and respect. Bullying, harassment or unfair behaviour in any form is not tolerated. This is also equally reciprocated and Prize competition operators have the right to remove disruptive individuals from their platforms. 

• Customer Service Support: Prize operators provide a customer service option whereby customers can contact them for required support. A complaints process is also provided. 

• Secure Entry and Payment Processing: Entries are processed using secure, encrypted payment methods. Prize Competition operators work only with trusted providers ensuring your personal data is protected with strict privacy protocol.

• Minimum Entry Period: All competitions are open for a minimum of 3 working days & the free entry route is displayed at the same level as the paid entry route​, free Entry route is no more expensive or less convenient than entering the draw by the paid entry route. 

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Empowered Participation™

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''Because Real Empowerment Means Choice.''

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Prizes are only the beginning. Empowered Participation™ ensures that every entrant feels informed, respected, and in control of their experience.​

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• Freedom of choice: Prize competition operators believe in you and your freedom to make your own choices when deciding to enter competitions 

• Informed decisions: Key details regarding competitions are transparent in line with the Fair Participation Guarantee so you can enter with clarity and confidence

• Healthy boundaries (Pause My Entries™, delete account option): Prize Competition Operators promote balance and mindful choices, because REAL EMPOWERMENT means knowing when not to enter too. They give you the option to ''Pause your entries'' or delete your account permanently. You're in control, and the functionality, reminders and information when you sign up are there to guide you in making informed, empowered and responsible choices. They are also committed to ensuring those who Pause or Delete are removed from marketing.

• Respectful language (no gambling-style terms): Prize Competition operators do not use gambling style words like play, spin, or jackpot

• 18+ protection: Prize Competition Operators enhance and change lives, real empowerment means making sure every participant is ready for the opportunities they bring. Prize competition operators are committed to ensuring those who enter competitions are 18+. 

• Privacy protection: Your data is safe, your contact preferences respected.

• Honest marketing: All marketing is compliant with BCAP and CAP codes, ensuring that all promotions are legal, decent, honest, and truthful. (BCAP & CAP compliant).

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Positive Impact Promise™​

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''Because Prize Competitions turn Ordinary into Extraordinary''

 

• The Impact Promise - ensures that every certified operator contributes to something greater than themselves whether through charities, communities, or individuals. Where operators promise charitable donations they are expected to meet the requirements as set out in the Code of Fundraising Practice and register with the Fundraising Regulator.

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Certified Prize Competitions™ Seal of Trust

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Only prize competition operators meeting the standards of the Fair Participation Guarantee™, Empowered Participation™, and Positive Impact Promise™ are authorised to display the Certified Prize Competitions™ badge.

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This badge represents:

• Transparency

• Empowerment

• Impact

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Commitment to Progress

The Certification Standards are living commitments. They will be updated as needed to continue raising industry standards, empowering participants & prize competition site owners, and making a wider impact. Operators should ensure they have processes in place which helps enable adherence to the pillars and timely action to resolve issues where necessary. 

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Third parties for example, those who provide web development services to operators should also operate by these pillars to maintain transparency and trust within the industry. 

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By adopting these standards, competition operators join a community of accountable, transparent and ethical operators of prize competitions. 

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These marks are part of a wider ethical certification and trustmark framework currently in use or planned for future rollout.

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Fair Participation Guarantee™, Fair Participation Certified™, Certified Prize Competitions™, Verified Prize Competitions™, Empowered Participation™, Empowered Participation Certified™, Empowered Trust Mark Framework ™, Responsible Participation™, Responsible Participation Certified™, Responsible Trust Mark Framework ™ CompCareUK™ Pause My Entries™are the trademarks. All rights reserved. Unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.