Common Questions

Why is there a setup fee?
We build you a standalone competition website, not a page on a shared marketplace. Your setup fee covers designing and branding your site, setting up and connecting your merchant account, and configuring the legal mechanics UK prize competitions need. After that, you pay nothing unless you sell tickets.

Why do I need my own merchant account?
Standard payment providers like regular Stripe or PayPal often treat competition sites as high risk and can freeze accounts without warning. We set you up with a provider that works with UK competition sites, so payments run smoothly and money goes into your own bank account, not ours.

Can I use a merchant provider I already have?
Yes. If your provider supports competition websites, we’ll connect it to your site and your setup fee drops to £300. Some providers charge their own setup fees, monthly fees or require extra documentation, so we’re happy to talk through your options on a demo call.

When do I get paid?
Ticket money goes straight into your own bank account through your merchant provider, so you’re not waiting for a marketplace to release your funds after the draw. You can use it to buy the prize or fund your promotion.

How do I select a winner?

You have two simple options for choosing a winner when your competition ends:

• 1. Automated Winner Selection: Our built-in, verified random generator automatically selects the winning ticket number when the countdown clock hits zero. The winner's name and ticket number are instantly published on your competition page.

• 2. Live Draw (Manual Selection): Export your full list of entries into a CSV file with a single click. You can run your own live stream draw (using a physical machine, Google Random Number Generator, or wheel spin) and manually update the competition page with the winning details afterwards.

Are there any monthly fees?
Not from us. Hosting, maintenance and updates are included. You only pay our 10% platform fee on ticket sales.

Will the site look like mine or CompsLive’s?
It’s 100% yours: your name, logo and colours, with no other creators’ competitions and no third-party ads. Receipts and confirmation emails carry your branding too.

Do I need any technical skills?
None. We build and launch everything. Adding a new competition takes a couple of minutes: upload your prize photos, set your ticket price and draw date, and publish.

How many competitions can I run?
As many as you like, whenever you like. Most creators run them occasionally

Why do I need my own merchant account instead of using regular Stripe/PayPal?

Standard payment gateways like basic Stripe or PayPal treat competition and raffle websites as "high-risk" and will frequently ban accounts and lock funds without warning. As part of your setup, we connect you with a specialised high-risk merchant provider designed specifically for UK competition sites so your payments process smoothly and land directly in your bank.

Why do I have to apply?
We work with creators who have an engaged audience, so every site we launch has a real chance of success. You don’t need a huge following, just people who trust you.

Is this a gambling platform?
No. CompsLive provides website technology for prize competitions. Each competition is organised by the website owner, who is responsible for running it in line with UK law. We provide a legal template to help you get started.