The winner is the most important moment of any prize competition. This guide covers how TopDraw runs each draw, how the winning ticket is selected and what happens before a winner appears on the [TopDraw winners](/winners) page.
When a competition closes
A competition closes either when its closing date arrives or when its ticket cap is reached, whichever happens first. Once closed, no further paid or postal entries are accepted.
The competition then moves into the draw queue. The admin team checks the entry list and any outstanding postal entries before the draw is run.
How valid tickets are included
Only valid entries are eligible for the draw. That means paid entries that completed checkout successfully and postal entries that were received in time and accepted under the [free postal entry route](/free-entry).
Entries that were cancelled, refunded or rejected are excluded from the draw pool. Cancellations are recorded so the eligible pool is auditable.
How the winner is selected
The winning ticket is selected using a verifiable random method. The draw process records the eligible count, the selected index and a cryptographic hash of the result so the outcome can be reviewed after the fact.
The proof file for each draw is stored against the competition and can be reviewed by the admin team. This is the same proof system used for every TopDraw draw.
What happens after the draw
Once the winning ticket is selected, the system identifies the entry and the account behind it. The team then attempts to contact the winner privately so the prize claim process can begin.
Winners are not published before they have been notified. This protects the winner and gives them time to respond before any details appear on the public site.
Why winners are reviewed before publishing
Reviewing a winner before publishing is part of how TopDraw runs its prize claim process. We confirm the win, complete identity and eligibility checks where needed, and agree how the prize will be delivered.
If something needs to be resolved before publishing, we leave the result unpublished until it is ready.
Where winners are published
Once everything is in order, the winner is published on the [TopDraw winners](/winners) page with a display-safe name and the winning ticket number. You can also browse [past competitions](/past-competitions) for a longer view.
If you would like to dig deeper into how prize draws are recorded, the [Help Centre](/faqs) has more detail. TopDraw competitions are open to UK residents aged 18 and over.