The rules
Skill questions explained: why they are there and what makes one fair
The quick quiz before checkout has a legal job to do. What it is for, what the law says about "too easy" questions, and how to answer safely.
Before you pay for a ticket, most competition sites ask you a question: "Which planet is known as the Red Planet?" or "How many sides does a hexagon have?" It looks like a formality, but it is part of the legal structure that keeps the competition out of lottery territory.
The legal test in one paragraph
A lottery allocates prizes wholly by chance. Adding skill, judgement or knowledge changes that, but only if the test genuinely does something. Under section 14(5) of the Gambling Act 2005, a requirement is treated as chance if it cannot reasonably be expected to prevent a significant proportion of people who want to take part from doing so, or a significant proportion of entrants from winning. A question everyone gets right does neither.
Easy question, so is it illegal?
Not necessarily. Many operators accept that their question is simple and rely on the free entry route as the main legal basis. The question then serves as an extra layer and as a basic attention check. The combination is common and generally regarded as acceptable when the free route is real.
Where you should be wary is the site that has neither: a trivially easy question and no free entry route, or a free route that is hard to use. That combination suggests the operator has not taken the law seriously.
What happens if you answer wrongly?
This varies, so read the terms before you pay. The fairest approach is to check your answer before payment and refuse the order if it is wrong. Some sites let you pay and then treat an incorrect answer as an invalid entry with no refund. That is lawful if it is clearly explained, but it is worth knowing in advance.
- Take a moment. The questions are deliberately quick, but check the wording.
- Look for "all of the above" or trick wording on multiple-choice questions.
- If you enter by post, write the answer clearly; an unreadable answer may count as wrong.
Spot the difference: a fair question vs a token one
| Fair | Token | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Multiple choice with plausible wrong answers | One obvious answer |
| When checked | Before you pay | After you pay, or never |
| Wrong answer | Entry refused or refunded, explained in terms | Silently accepted |
| Free entry route | Also offered and easy to use | Missing or hidden |
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Questions or corrections? [email protected]