Gambling Commission

Gambling Commission clarifies position on house competitions

Following the news that the Oldborough Retreat Devon competition draw would be allowed to proceed a few days ago, the Gambling Commission has published a new paper warning other competition organisers that this does not necessarily mean it considers other similar competitions to be legal. It also clarifies that its role is not to approve house competitions under any circumstances, but...

Oldborough Retreat house competition draw allowed to proceed

Despite successfully selling all 46,000 tickets back in September last year, the British couple running the Oldborough Retreat competition were forced to postpone the draw to allow them to convince the Gambling Commission, the UK's gaming regulator, that their competition was indeed legal. The competition is designed to give away their £1 million 11-acre estate in Devon to one lucky ...

PayPal shy away from win a house competitions

Not only have house competition organisers had to contend with challenges from the UK's Gambling Commission in recent months, with the most notable case being the postponed Oldborough Retreat competition; they have also had to deal with technical complications relating to processing payments online. It seems that the regulatory uncertainty surrounding win a house...

Postponed Oldborough Retreat competition closely followed by others

After selling out in September and then being suddenly halted just before picking a winner due to an investigation by the UK's Gambling Commission, the Oldborough Retreat Devon property competition has yet to be resolved. Unfortunately, it seems these problems are affecting a large number of other similar house competitions across the UK and Ireland.

Grand Designs Underground House competition relaunched

A few months ago, British couple Tim and Zoe Bawtree launched a win a house competition to give away their £745,000 home in Cheltenham. The property was featured in Channel 4's Grand Design show, which followed its construction from start to finish. Designed as an eco-home under the couple's original back garden, it was dubbed the 'Underground House' and won a number of...

Oldborough Retreat Devon competition still not concluded

Brian and Wendy Wilshaw successfully sold out all 46,000 tickets two months early in their win a house competition back in September. In the process, they raised £1.15 million in the hope of giving away their £1 million Devon property, Oldborough Retreat. Despite a very successful marketing campaign and being just about to carry out the final draw to pick a winner, the...

Gambling Commission tightens grip on house competitions

Today Win a House reported that after writing to the British couple organising the Oldborough Retreat competition warning them that it may not be legal, today the...

Oldborough Retreat competition postponed

After successfully selling out all 46,000 tickets two months early and raising £1.15 million for their Devon property with fishing win a house competition, the Wilshaws have been forced to postpone the final draw. The winner was supposed to be drawn today at random amongst all the correct competition entries, ...