can the prize draw closing date be extended

Can the Prize Draw Closing Date be Extended?

Every online raffle (prize competition) should have an entry closing date, but can the closing date be extended?

A closing date is the time at which entries for an online raffle ends and no more entries are allowed. This makes for a much more entertaining and fun experience because if not many tickets are sold then the odds of wining are increased. Furthermore, it is a clear indication of how long you have to buy tickets!

Most online raffle providers will state on their website something along the lines of..

“GUARANTEED DRAW, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TICKETS SELL”

Why would a closing date be extended?

Not selling enough tickets

The legitimate online raffle providers will limit how many tickets are available for each online raffle. Let us say for example that there is a limit of 1000 tickets on sale and the closing date is 7 days from the start of the raffle. The online raffle provider will hope to sell all 1000 tickets before the closing date. 

If all tickets are not sold then the raffle provider maybe tempted to extend the closing date.

Technical Issues

Some online raffle providers will experience genuine technical issues that may lead to a closing date being extended. This could be due to payment problems, advertising issues or website downtime, to name a few. 

Non-legitimate providers may use ‘technical issues’ as a reason to extend the closing date because they haven’t sold enough tickets. Providers who are quite new and struggling to sell tickets may resort to this. 

Personal Circumstances

Some unexpected personal circumstances, beyond the online raffle providers control, may result in a closing date being extended. 

The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP)

The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) code rule 8.17.4 states the following guidance on closing dates:-

Closing dates are listed in rule 8.17 as being a significant condition which must be included in marketing communications, where not doing so could be misleading. Most promotions are likely to need a closing date, however, closing dates may not always be necessary, for example if the offer’s duration is limited by availability only, or if it is a loyalty scheme run on an open ended basis (8.17.4.a).  If a promoter does not have a set closing date for a promotion, they must be able to demonstrate that the absence of a closing date will not disadvantage consumers (8.17.4.c).

In simple terms, a closing date must not be extended. If it is, the online raffle provider must be able to prove that this has been done due to circumstances out of their control! 

It is then exceptionally difficult to know if the reasons behind a closing date being extended are genuine or not. However, these things do happen and it can be forgiven if it happens once or twice.

If you find closing dates are being regularly extended, then we would recommend that you are very cautious about entering any further online raffles with that provider. You should find that the majority of established providers will never extend their closing dates. The ‘Guaranteed draw, regardless of how many tickets sell’ tagline is a vital part of an online raffle providers business model. This is what gives the entering of a raffle an extra element of fun! After all, you could enter an online raffle and only a small amount of tickets sell! If the draw is guaranteed then your chance of winning is extremely high!

FAQs: Can an Online Raffle Closing Date Be Extended?

Yes — but only in certain circumstances.

An online prize draw should always have a clearly stated entry closing date. Extending that date is possible, but it must be done transparently and in line with the competition’s Terms & Conditions.

Frequent or unexplained extensions can damage trust and may raise compliance concerns.

The closing date is the cut-off time for entries. After this point:

  • No more tickets can be purchased

  • No more free entries are accepted

  • The draw process begins

Having a fixed closing date gives entrants clarity on how long they have to enter and helps maintain fairness.

There are three main reasons a closing date might be extended:

1. Not enough tickets sold
If a prize draw has a ticket limit (for example, 1,000 tickets) and sales are lower than expected, the operator may want more time to sell tickets.

2. Technical issues
Genuine problems such as website downtime, payment gateway failures, or advertising disruptions can justify an extension.

3. Personal or unforeseen circumstances
Unexpected events beyond the provider’s control may require a short delay.

However, transparency is essential in all cases.

This depends on what was clearly stated before entries were purchased.

Many reputable online prize draw providers state something like:

‘Guaranteed draw, no matter how many tickets sell’

If this statement is made, the draw should go ahead on the original closing date — even if all tickets have not sold.

Extending purely due to low ticket sales, without prior disclosure, can reduce trust and create reputational risk.

Yes.

If a prize draw provider reserves the right to extend a closing date, this must be:

  • Clearly written in the competition Terms & Conditions

  • Visible before purchase

  • Explained transparently

Failing to disclose this could be considered misleading.

If you notice repeated extensions:

  • Check the Terms & Conditions

  • Look for a “guaranteed draw” statement

  • Ask the provider directly for clarification

  • Consider whether the business appears transparent

Trustworthy online prize draw businesses prioritise fairness and clarity over maximising ticket sales.