The Prize Competition Council (PCC) has officially launched as a trade association for the UK's prize competition sector. Announced on Wednesday, this new organization intends to unite over 50 operators to enhance responsible practices, increase player protections, and foster long-term growth.
After several months of working together across the industry, the PCC created a governance framework and contributed to the development of a voluntary code of conduct aimed at improving transparency and accountability among prize draw operators. This code, published by the government in November 2022, came into effect in May 2023.
The code addresses player protection and ethical marketing issues while offering players options to set monthly spend limits, with operators also able to implement their own restrictions. Daniel Swann, who represents smaller operators, emphasized the necessity for universal adoption of the code, asserting, "It is vital that everyone embraces the Code and feels the PCC has their interests at heart."
The inaugural board has been elected to serve a two-year term and includes members from a variety of operator sizes and business models. The board consists of George McGregor (independent chair), Chris Jennings (Winvia Entertainment PLC), Tam Watson (Jumbo Interactive UK), Declan Murray (Pristine Competitions), Punit Shah (Seven Days Performance), Pete Toye (The GiveAway Guys), Oliver Donnelly (McKinney Competitions), Ian Buckley (Paragon Competitions), and Daniel Swann (Two Fat Ladies Competitions).
Jo Bucci, a founding member and outgoing director of the PCC as well as chair of Winvia Entertainment PLC, remarked that introducing a strong board would "address the challenges the sector faces in the years ahead." She acknowledged the "constructive engagement and support" from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport during the council's formation.
George McGregor reiterated that the establishment of the council highlights the increasing maturity of the sector and the importance of strong representation and clear standards for industry success.
The PCC has outlined its core priorities, including assisting members in implementing the voluntary code of conduct and developing sector-wide guidance and training materials. Acting as a representative voice in discussions with policymakers and regulators is also a significant goal for the organization.
The PCC emphasized its commitment to inclusivity, ensuring smaller operators have access to necessary guidance and advocacy. Prize competitions in the UK operate within a complex regulatory environment, often categorized separately from gambling and lottery regulations based on their formats and prize distribution methods.
The Prize Draw Competition (PDC) market has seen considerable growth in recent years. A survey released by Rokker in April indicated it raised £1.3 billion in annual revenue with approximately 7.4 million active players. Jamie Pinner, a senior leader at DrawHouse, pointed out one of the main advantages is that prize draws are not currently subjected to Remote Gaming Duty, making them a more efficient revenue stream compared to sportsbooks or casinos, at least for now.
However, Pinner perceives this as a temporary regulatory advantage, predicting that the market will trend towards regulation in the coming years. "If that happens, major betting operators will already be in a strong position due to their existing infrastructure, compliance frameworks, and customer bases ready to scale quickly," he said.
