If you've spent any time on DrawFinder, you've probably noticed the trust scores. Every provider on the site gets a rating out of 5, and those numbers shape everything from how prominently a draw appears in search to whether we'd recommend it to a mate.
But a number on its own is meaningless if you don't know what's behind it. So this is how we score, and why.
The trust score isn't a vibe check. It's built on six weighted criteria that we apply consistently across every provider on the platform, from established charity lotteries to newer subscription giveaway brands. The same rules, every time. Every provider must pass all six checks before earning a score. No shortcuts, no exceptions.
The first criterion is entry numbers. Every entrant should receive a unique, verifiable ticket ID. If you can't check your entry, how do you know you're actually in the draw? We assess whether each provider issues unique entry numbers and whether entrants can independently look up their entries. Full marks go to providers with real-time entry verification portals where you can check your ticket number. Partial marks for email confirmations with entry numbers. Zero for providers that give no entry confirmation at all. It sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many providers skip this entirely.
Second is winner transparency. Are past winners publicly listed? Do they livestream the draw? Are there verified handover videos proving real people won real prizes? We look for concrete evidence, not just names on a webpage. Full marks go to providers who livestream their draws with verified winner identities and handover footage. Partial marks for named winners without independent verification. Zero for providers with no public winner history. A draw you can watch live, with a real person picking up real keys, carries a lot more weight than a congratulations post on Instagram that could have been written by anyone.
Third is what we call XP Level, which is really about age and track record. How long has the provider been operating? A provider running draws for five-plus years carries far more weight than one that launched last month. Full marks for providers with five or more years of continuous operation. Partial marks for one to five years. Minimal marks for providers under 12 months old. Track record is everything in this space, and there's no shortcut to earning it.
Fourth, and this is a big one, is whether the provider uses a third-party government-approved drawing system. This is the single biggest indicator of a legitimate operation. It means the provider cannot influence the outcome because the draw is conducted, certified, and recorded by an independent party with no commercial interest in the result. Full marks for providers using a government-approved third-party system, like a state-licensed electronic drawing platform. Significant deductions for providers who run their own draws internally with no independent oversight. If the same company selling the tickets is also picking the winner, you should be asking questions.
Fifth is verification power. This goes beyond just getting an entry number. Can entrants independently verify that their entries are registered? Is there a self-service portal? How much information is visible? Are total entry counts disclosed? Full access means complete transparency. Anything less raises questions. Full marks for providers with self-service verification and published total entry counts. Partial marks for limited verification like email-only confirmation. Zero for no verification capability at all.
Sixth is trust signals. This is the extra layer that separates good from great. We check independent review platforms, social media engagement, charity affiliations, and any formal endorsements or certifications. Verified community reviews, charity partnerships, industry endorsements, and third-party audits all count here. Full marks for strong independent reviews, four-plus stars across multiple platforms, verified charity partnerships, and industry recognition. Deductions for low review counts, negative sentiment, or no external validation.
On top of the base score, providers that use a government-approved, independent electronic drawing system receive a bonus of up to 0.5 points. This is the strongest single indicator of draw legitimacy, and it rewards providers who go the extra mile by removing themselves from the draw process entirely.
The scores range from 1.0 to 5.0. Anything above 4.0 means we're confident the provider is transparent, well-established and running draws through proper independent systems. Between 3.0 and 4.0 means generally solid but with some areas that could improve. Below 3.0 means we've identified enough concerns that we'd want consumers to do their own research before committing money. Below 2.0 is a red flag zone.
We review and update scores quarterly, or sooner if something material happens, like a regulatory action, a major complaint pattern, or a change in how a provider runs its draws. The LMCT+ score, for instance, was reviewed after the South Australian court verdict earlier this year.
One thing we don't factor in: prize value. A provider giving away a $3 million house doesn't automatically outscore one giving away a $30,000 car. The score is about trustworthiness, not generosity. A small charity raffle with $5 tickets and perfect transparency will outscore a flashy platform with seven-figure prizes and no independent draw system every time.
We also don't accept payment to influence scores. No provider can buy a better rating. There are no affiliate partnerships, no sponsored placements, and no commercial relationships that could influence trust scores. If that ever changed, you'd have no reason to trust anything on this site, and we'd have no reason to exist.
The system isn't perfect. We're working with publicly available information, and some providers are more transparent than others, which itself becomes a data point. But it's consistent, it's documented, and it's the same system shown on our Compare page. You can read the full methodology at drawfinder.com/trust-score any time you want to check our working.