Prize Competition RMG Licence & Compliance Support
Running a UK prize competition business means navigating unique legal and advertising hurdles. One major challenge is Real Money Gaming (RMG) approval – a requirement imposed by platforms like Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google before they let you run ads for competitions, raffles, or any prize draws involving paid entry. Without RMG approval, your ads will be rejected or your ad account could even be suspended.
Running a UK prize competition business means navigating unique legal and advertising hurdles. One major challenge is Real Money Gaming (RMG) approval – a requirement imposed by platforms like Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google before they let you run ads for competitions, raffles, or any prize draws involving paid entry. Without RMG approval, your ads will be rejected or your ad account could even be suspended.
This page explains what RMG approval means for prize competitions, how it differs from a UK gambling licence, what documentation and steps are needed for ad platform approval, and how Nera’s RMG compliance support helps competition brands become fully legal and ad-approved.
We offer this service as a standalone option or as an add-on to any of our core competition website packages.
This page explains what RMG approval means for prize competitions, how it differs from a UK gambling licence, what documentation and steps are needed for ad platform approval, and how Nera’s RMG compliance support helps competition brands become fully legal and ad-approved.
What is RMG Approval for Prize Competitions?
“RMG” stands for Real Money Gaming, a term ad platforms use for any service involving money prizes or winnings. In practice, platforms like Meta categorise online prize competitions, raffles, and similar promotions under their ‘online gambling and gaming’ ad policies.
We offer this service as a standalone option or as an add-on to any of our core competition website packages.
Even if your competition is skill-based and not traditional gambling, it is still treated as “real-money gaming” because participants pay or stake something of value for a chance to win. RMG approval is the pre-approval process required by platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Google to advertise such content.
Obtaining RMG approval means proving to the ad platform that your competition is legitimate, compliant with UK law, and responsibly operated. Once you have this approval, you can run paid ads to promote your prize competitions. Without it, ads will be disallowed as prohibited content, and repeated attempts may trigger account bans.
What is RMG Approval for Prize Competitions? Meta’s RMG Requirements vs UK Gambling Licences
It’s important to distinguish Meta’s RMG approval process from a UK Gambling Commission licence.
“RMG” stands for Real Money Gaming, a term ad platforms use for any service involving money prizes or winnings. In practice, platforms like Meta categorise online prize competitions, raffles, and similar promotions under their ‘online gambling and gaming’ ad policies.
A Gambling Commission licence is an official government licence required for operating certain forms of gambling (lotteries, casinos, betting). Legitimate prize competitions and free draws in the UK are designed to avoid needing a gambling licence by complying with Gambling Act 2005 exemptions.
For example, including a free entry route or a genuine skill question that deters a significant number of people allows your competition to operate without a licence.
Even if your competition is skill-based and not traditional gambling, it is still treated as “real-money gaming” because participants pay or stake something of value for a chance to win. RMG approval is the pre-approval process required by platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Google to advertise such content.
However, Meta’s RMG approval is a separate platform requirement. Even if you don’t need a UK licence, Facebook or Instagram may still require you to complete an RMG application and provide legal confirmation that your prize competition is lawful. Think of this as Meta’s own version of a licence, specific to their ad platform.
Google and TikTok have similar requirements. In short:
Obtaining RMG approval means proving to the ad platform that your competition is legitimate, compliant with UK law, and responsibly operated. Once you have this approval, you can run paid ads to promote your prize competitions. Without it, ads will be disallowed as prohibited content, and repeated attempts may trigger account bans.
UK law may allow your competition to run without a licence
Ad platforms will still need documentation proving this before allowing ads to run
What You Need for RMG Approval
Getting approved to run ads for your competition requires the following:
Meta’s RMG Requirements vs UK Gambling Licences
✍️ Legal Opinion Letter
A written statement from a solicitor confirming your competition is lawful under UK regulations (e.g. complies with skill/free entry conditions and is not a lottery).
It’s important to distinguish Meta’s RMG approval process from a UK Gambling Commission licence.
🌐 A Fully Compliant Website
Your website must have:
A Gambling Commission licence is an official government licence required for operating certain forms of gambling (lotteries, casinos, betting). Legitimate prize competitions and free draws in the UK are designed to avoid needing a gambling licence by complying with Gambling Act 2005 exemptions.
Transparent Terms & Conditions
A clearly visible and enforceable free entry route or skill question
Responsible play and age restrictions (18+)
Geographic limits (e.g. UK-only)
For example, including a free entry route or a genuine skill question that deters a significant number of people allows your competition to operate without a licence.
Cookie policy, privacy, and responsible marketing messaging
✉️ Meta / Google RMG Application Support
Each platform has an RMG application process:
However, Meta’s RMG approval is a separate platform requirement. Even if you don’t need a UK licence, Facebook or Instagram may still require you to complete an RMG application and provide legal confirmation that your prize competition is lawful. Think of this as Meta’s own version of a licence, specific to their ad platform.
Meta requires a questionnaire submission and documentation
Google requires a country-specific gambling/competition certificate
You’ll need to submit:
Google and TikTok have similar requirements. In short:
A completed RMG application (we help with this)
Your legal opinion letter
Screenshots or links showing compliant website features
Proof of geo- and age-restrictions
UK law may allow your competition to run without a licence
What’s Included in Nera’s RMG Compliance Support
Whether you’re launching a new site or have an existing competition website, our service is designed to ensure you meet all requirements for ad platform approval. You can access this as:
Ad platforms will still need documentation proving this before allowing ads to run
A standalone one-off compliance project, or
What You Need for RMG Approval
An add-on to any Nera website build or upgrade
Our package includes:
Getting approved to run ads for your competition requires the following:
1. RMG Legal & Technical Audit
We review your competition structure, terms, entry routes, eligibility, and risk factors to ensure your promotion meets UK legal exemptions.
✍️ Legal Opinion Letter
2. Documentation Prep
We help you refine or create:
A written statement from a solicitor confirming your competition is lawful under UK regulations (e.g. complies with skill/free entry conditions and is not a lottery).
Legal competition Terms & Conditions
Free entry instructions or skill question framing
Responsible play and eligibility policies
🌐 A Fully Compliant Website
3. Solicitor Letter Coordination
We liaise with a specialist solicitor (or your own legal partner) to produce the required legal opinion letter for Meta or Google.
Your website must have:
4. Application Guidance & Support
We assist with completing RMG application forms, including:
Transparent Terms & Conditions
Advice on wording
Step-by-step walkthrough
A clearly visible and enforceable free entry route or skill question
Troubleshooting policy rejections
5. Post-Approval Support
Responsible play and age restrictions (18+)
We’re always on hand to provide additional support if your competition structure evolves, new platforms are added, or future reviews require updates.
Geographic limits (e.g. UK-only)
Who It’s For
Cookie policy, privacy, and responsible marketing messaging
Our RMG compliance support is ideal for:
✉️ Meta / Google RMG Application Support
Competition brands applying to advertise on Meta, Google, TikTok or others
Businesses with existing raffle or giveaway websites needing documentation
Each platform has an RMG application process:
Startups preparing to launch with ad-readiness in place
Agencies or developers with clients needing RMG help
Let’s Get You Approved
If you want to advertise your prize competition and do it legally, safely, and with confidence – we’re here to help. Our RMG support service gives you:
Meta requires a questionnaire submission and documentation
A clear compliance path
Google requires a country-specific gambling/competition certificate
Legal sign-off
Application success strategy
You’ll need to submit:
Peace of mind
Get in touch today to book a call with our compliance team.
A completed RMG application (we help with this)
Also available as an add-on to Nera One, Nera Engine or Nera Growth packages.
Your legal opinion letter
Screenshots or links showing compliant website features
Proof of geo- and age-restrictions
What’s Included in Nera’s RMG Compliance Support
Whether you’re launching a new site or have an existing competition website, our service is designed to ensure you meet all requirements for ad platform approval. You can access this as:
A standalone one-off compliance project, or
An add-on to any Nera website build or upgrade
Our package includes:
1. RMG Legal & Technical Audit
We review your competition structure, terms, entry routes, eligibility, and risk factors to ensure your promotion meets UK legal exemptions.
2. Documentation Prep
We help you refine or create:
Legal competition Terms & Conditions
Free entry instructions or skill question framing
Responsible play and eligibility policies
3. Solicitor Letter Coordination
We liaise with a specialist solicitor (or your own legal partner) to produce the required legal opinion letter for Meta or Google.
4. Application Guidance & Support
We assist with completing RMG application forms, including:
Advice on wording
Step-by-step walkthrough
Troubleshooting policy rejections
5. Post-Approval Support
We’re always on hand to provide additional support if your competition structure evolves, new platforms are added, or future reviews require updates.
Who It’s For
Our RMG compliance support is ideal for:
Competition brands applying to advertise on Meta, Google, TikTok or others
Businesses with existing raffle or giveaway websites needing documentation
Startups preparing to launch with ad-readiness in place
Agencies or developers with clients needing RMG help
Let’s Get You Approved
If you want to advertise your prize competition and do it legally, safely, and with confidence – we’re here to help. Our RMG support service gives you:
A clear compliance path
Legal sign-off
Application success strategy
Peace of mind
Get in touch today to book a call with our compliance team.
Also available as an add-on to Nera One, Nera Engine or Nera Growth packages.
