If you’ve come across BOTB and its big car or cash prize banners, you might be wondering what exactly is involved—and whether it’s worth spending your money on.
This blog explains how BOTB’s Spot the Ball competitions work, how prizes are awarded, and what skill really means in this context. It also breaks down the judging process, the cost of entering, and how winners are contacted.
If you’ve never entered a skilled prize competition before, this can help give you a clear picture, without using confusing jargon or unrealistic claims.
BOTB Explained
BOTB, or Best of the Best, is a UK-based company that began in 1999. It runs paid-entry competitions online, including its main event: the Dream Car competition.
To enter, you buy one or more tickets and take part in a Spot the Ball challenge. A football is digitally removed from a real match photo, and your task is to click on where you think the centre of the ball should be.
There’s a wide range of potential prizes, including over 150 car models, watches, holidays, and cash alternatives. Unlike lotteries or gambling, BOTB operates as a skill-based prize competition, which means outcomes depend on judgement—not chance. Ticket prices vary by prize, starting from around 40p and increasing for more valuable items.
Because the possible prizes and formats may differ between draws, it may be worth reviewing the Terms and Conditions before entering.
Is BOTB a Scam or Legit?
BOTB is a legitimate UK company that operates skilled competitions, not chance-based gambling. As such, it doesn’t fall under the regulation of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). It’s been in operation for over two decades and has awarded more than £95 million in prizes.
In Spot the Ball, the outcome is determined by a judging panel—not random software. That panel includes football professionals and referees who review the image and decide where the ball should have been.
Videos of past winners and judging sessions are published on the BOTB website. Although large prizes are promoted, winning is never guaranteed, and most participants do not win. If you’re thinking about entering, it might be a good idea to read through the prize information and entry rules first.
How Are Winners Identified?
After entries close, a judging panel—usually made up of ex-footballers and referees—looks at the same image you used. Each judge places a marker where they think the centre of the ball was. These are reviewed as a group to set the winning coordinate.
The player whose guess is nearest to that coordinate wins the main prize. In the case of a tie—if two or more entries are equally close—BOTB uses tie-break rules that should be detailed in the terms. You can watch the full judging sessions online, where the judges’ decisions are explained.
Prize types and judging formats may differ between competitions, so it can be worth checking each game individually.
BOTB Entry - Step-by-Step
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Visit the BOTB website
Go to www.botb.com to view all available competitions, including Dream Car, Lifestyle, and other draws.
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Register or log in
Create a new account with your name, email, and age. You must be at least 18. Existing users can log in.
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Pick your competition
Choose the competition you want to enter. Different draws feature different prizes and price ranges.
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Buy your tickets
Select your prize and decide how many tickets to buy. Ticket prices typically start from around £0.40 and can increase, depending on the item.
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Play Spot the Ball
Study the football image, then place your marker where you think the centre of the ball was.
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Review before payment
Before checking out, you can change your selected positions or buy more tickets.
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Checkout and pay
Use a valid UK payment method to complete your purchase.
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Wait for judging and results
Once judging has been completed, the player nearest to the chosen coordinate is declared the winner.
Competition rules and potential prize details are shown before you enter, so take a moment to review those before making a decision.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.