There are two ways to run a virtual duck race, and they suit different groups. In the first, supporters adopt their own ducks. In the second, you enter the ducks yourself, one for each class, team or house, and everyone donates to the cause while cheering on their side.
Both run on the same race page on the night. The difference is how people take part and how the money comes in.
Format 1: supporters adopt a duck
This is the classic duck race. You set a price, supporters adopt a duck from your race page, name it and dress it up, and the first duck over the line wins a prize.
It works well when:
- your supporters are spread out and will take part from home
- you have prizes to give, donated or bought
- you want every supporter to have a duck of their own to shout for
Things to decide:
- The price. Most races charge £2 to £5 a duck. Cheaper ducks sell in bigger numbers, since families often adopt several.
- A limit on ducks. Capping the field lets the page count down the places left, which sells the last few.
- When entries close. A week before the race, or right up to the start.
The lottery question. When people pay for a duck and the winner gets a prize, the race can count as a lottery. Every Pledglings race page offers a free postal entry, which in Great Britain normally makes the race a free draw instead, so no lottery licence is needed. You have to keep that route open and honour the entries it brings.
Format 2: you enter the ducks, supporters donate
Here, nobody buys a duck. You add the ducks yourself from your race admin, one for each class, year group, team or house, and name and dress each one. Supporters then donate from the race page, with a message if they like, and cheer on their class's duck on the night.
It works well when:
- you are a school, a scout group or a club with teams already built in
- you would rather children were not paying to enter
- you have no prizes, or the prize goes to a whole class (an extra playtime, a trophy for the classroom)
- you want to keep things simple, with no entry deadline or duck limit to manage
Things to decide:
- What each duck looks like. Letting each class choose its duck's name and outfit is half the fun, and gets them talking about the race at home.
- Suggested donation amounts. Offer a few one-tap amounts on the donate form, and set a minimum so small gifts are not mostly card fees.
- Messages on screen. Donors can leave a message that appears over the race once you approve it. "Go Oak Class!" on the big screen goes down well in a school hall.
The lottery question. A lottery needs people to pay for a chance to win a prize. In this format nobody pays to enter: you enter the ducks, and donations are made to the cause, not for a duck. That is why many schools choose it. It avoids most of the lottery questions without needing a free entry route.
Keep it that way by making sure donating never buys a duck, a place or a better chance of winning, and that prizes go to the class or team, not to whoever gave the most.
Which should you choose?
| Adopt a duck | You enter the ducks | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes part | Each supporter, with their own duck | Classes, teams or houses |
| How money comes in | Duck adoptions, plus optional donations | Donations |
| Prizes | Usually for the winning supporter | For the winning class or team, or none |
| Lottery rules | Handled by the free postal entry | Not usually a lottery, as nobody pays to enter |
| Best for | Community fundraisers and charities | Schools, PTAs, clubs and scout groups |
If you are still unsure, ask who you want cheering. If it is individual supporters watching from home, let them adopt a duck. If it is a hall full of children shouting for their class, enter the ducks yourself.
A note on the rules
This is general guidance, not legal advice. The rules above are for Great Britain. They are different in Northern Ireland and outside the UK. If you are unsure whether your race counts as a lottery, check with the Gambling Commission before you launch.
Ready to set one up?
You can switch duck adoptions and donations on or off separately in your race settings, so either format takes a few minutes to set up. See how it works, or race some ducks in the free demo first.