How to Win BOTB: Guide to Your Competition Entry
Dreaming of driving away in your dream car, or just curious about how the BOTB competition works? Every week, thousands take part in BOTB (Best of the Best), an online competition known across the UK for its car prizes and cash alternatives.
Whether you’re completely new or have entered before, there is a bit to get your head around. From choosing a car to understanding the spot-the-ball element, it helps to know how everything fits together.
This guide explains how BOTB runs each round, how judging works, and what to consider when making your entry.
What Is BOTB And How Does It Work?
BOTB runs online competitions where entrants can win prizes such as cars and cash. It has been operating since 1999.
The car competition is the main attraction. You browse the vehicles available that week, pick the one you would most like to win, and buy a ticket for that choice. Ticket prices vary by car.
Each entry includes a spot-the-ball puzzle. You are shown a football photo with the ball removed, and you place a marker where you think the centre of the ball should be. A panel of independent experts then reviews the image. Using visual cues such as players’ gaze, body position and the flight of the play, they decide an official winning coordinate.
The winner is the entrant whose marker is closest to that point. If you win, BOTB will contact you to confirm your details and discuss your prize options, including any cash alternative where applicable.
So, what does putting in an entry actually involve?
How Do I Enter A BOTB Competition?
An account is required to take part. After signing up and confirming your details, you can choose from the live competitions on the site. For the car competition, the page shows the current models, each with its ticket price, so you can pick the one that suits you.
You then complete the football image puzzle by placing your marker where you believe the centre of the ball should be. You can add more tickets for that car before heading to checkout. Once payment is made, you will receive a confirmation email and your coordinates join that week’s judging.
Before you confirm anything, it helps to understand how ticket prices work.
How Much Does It Cost To Enter?
The cost depends on the prize you select. In the car competition, ticket prices typically start from around 85p and rise to several pounds for higher-value models. More expensive vehicles usually have pricier tickets, while more modest cars cost less.
There is no single price for all rounds. Each time you pick a car, the site shows you the exact price per ticket and the total before you finalise your entry. You can choose how many tickets to include at checkout and pay by the usual card methods.
Other BOTB competitions, such as the Midweek Car Competition or Lifestyle prizes, have their own pricing, shown clearly on their pages.
If you want to keep spending within a set budget, you can add a personal limit in your account settings.
Prices also vary by competition type, which brings us to your options.
What Are The Entry Types?
BOTB offers a few ways to play, so you can focus on the prizes that interest you most.
The Dream Car Competition is the flagship option. It features a broad mix of vehicles, from smaller hatchbacks to sports cars and SUVs. You pick your favourite, then complete your entry with the football image puzzle.
There is also a Midweek Car Competition. It runs separately, as the name suggests, and includes a different set of cars. The format mirrors the Dream Car round, but the line-up and prices can differ.
If cars are not what you are after, the Lifestyle Competition includes prizes such as cash, gadgets, holidays or watches. You select the prize you want to go for and complete the same puzzle as part of the entry.
Every competition uses the spot-the-ball element to validate entries. Spots are limited for each round and closing dates vary, so it is worth checking the end time before you commit.
Before choosing a competition, make sure you meet the entry rules.
What Are The Eligibility Requirements?
You must be at least 16 years old to enter. If you are under 18, check whether you can legally take ownership of the specific prize you are aiming for, particularly a vehicle or cash.
Competitions are open to UK residents and some international entrants, but eligibility varies by location. Always check the terms for your country or region, as certain places may be excluded.
Anyone directly connected with BOTB, such as employees or their immediate family members, cannot enter. This keeps the process fair.
When creating an account, provide accurate personal details. If you win, you may be asked to prove your identity and age before a prize is awarded. For car prizes, a valid driving licence is usually needed if you plan to claim the vehicle rather than a cash alternative.
With the basics covered, the next common question is how many tickets you can buy.
How Many Entries Can I Submit?
You can buy multiple tickets for a competition if you want to submit more than one set of coordinates. For most rounds there is a cap of up to 75 entries per person, and the site shows this limit when you select your tickets.
All entries must be made in your own name and from a single account. Creating extra accounts to bypass limits is not allowed and may lead to entries being removed without refund.
Your account dashboard keeps a record of recent activity, so you can see how many entries you have made and for which prizes.
Now for the part people are most curious about, how the judging selects a winner.
How Are Winners Chosen?
After the round closes, all eligible entries are compiled for judging. A panel of independent experts, often including former footballers and referees, reviews the original photo. Each judge places a marker where they believe the centre of the ball should be, based only on the visual evidence in the image.
The official winning coordinate is then set, commonly by averaging the judges’ positions after any panel discussion. This approach ensures the final point reflects the collective view rather than a single opinion.
The winning entry is the one closest to that coordinate. If two or more entries are exactly as close as each other, the tie is settled as described in the published rules.
The entire judging process is filmed and shared on the BOTB website, so you can see how decisions were made. With the process clear from entry to outcome, you are ready to browse the current competitions and put your entry together with confidence.
**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.