TLDR
- The Prize Competition Council (PCC) has officially launched as a trade association for the UK prize draw sector.
- The PCC brings together more than 50 operators to promote player protection and responsible standards.
- The launch follows a voluntary code of conduct that came into effect in May this year.
- A nine-person board, led by independent chair George McGregor, will serve a two-year term.
- The UK prize draw market generated £1.3 billion in revenue last year from around 7.4 million active players.
The Prize Competition Council has officially launched in the UK. It will act as a trade body for the country’s prize draw sector.
The announcement was made on Wednesday. More than 50 operators are expected to join the new group.
The PCC’s main goal is to promote responsible standards across the industry. It also wants to improve protections for players who enter prize draws.
Background on the Voluntary Code
The launch follows months of work between operators across the industry. This work led to a voluntary code of conduct for the sector.
The UK government published the code in November last year. It came into effect in May this year.
The code focuses on transparency and accountability. It also gives players the option to set monthly spending limits.
Operators can also set their own spending limits for users. This is meant to support responsible play across the sector.
Daniel Swann, who represents smaller operators on the board, spoke about the code. He said it is important that all companies adopt it and trust that the PCC represents their interests.
Who Sits on the New Board
The PCC has elected a nine-person board to serve a two-year term. The board includes people from both large and small operators.
George McGregor will serve as independent chair. Other board members come from companies including Winvia Entertainment, Jumbo Interactive UK, and Pristine Competitions.
Smaller operators are also represented. These include Two Fat Ladies Competitions and The GiveAway Guys.
Jo Bucci, a founding member of the PCC, commented on the board’s formation. She said a strong board would help the sector face challenges in the coming years.
Bucci also thanked the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for its support during the council’s formation.
McGregor said the launch shows the sector is maturing. He added that successful industries benefit from clear standards and strong representation.
Market Size and Regulatory Position
The prize draw market in the UK has grown quickly in recent years. A survey from Rokker in April found the sector generated £1.3 billion in revenue last year.
The same survey found around 7.4 million people actively took part in prize draws.
Prize draws currently sit outside gambling and lottery rules in most cases. This depends on how each competition is structured and how prizes are given out.
Jamie Pinner, a senior leader at prize draw operator DrawHouse, spoke about this position. He said prize draws are not subject to Remote Gaming Duty, unlike gambling products.
He said this makes prize draws a more efficient revenue stream than sportsbook or casino products right now.
Pinner also said this situation is likely temporary. He expects the market to move toward tighter regulation over the next few years.
He added that large betting operators would be well placed if that happens. These companies already have compliance systems and customer bases that could scale quickly into the space.
The PCC said its immediate focus will be helping members follow the new voluntary code. It also plans to create training materials and guidance for the sector.
The council said it will also act as a voice for the industry in talks with government and regulators.
