As in a number of countries, UK law distinguishes between illegal lotteries run as games of chance, and skill-based prize competitions. The Wilshaws' competition required players to answer a single question before buying a ticket on the website.

A couple of weeks ago, the couple claimed it had been given the green light by the Commission to go ahead with the draw. This followed ongoing speculation that the Commission may not have been in a strong position to prosecute in court after it was alleged it may have given misleading advice to the competition organisers.

The draw was carried out at 10am on 19 May in Exeter in the presence of lawyers. The couple now have one month to contact the winner by any means available. One lucky person will be handed the keys to the 11 acre, 5-bedroom estate called Oldborough Retreat, allowing the Wilshaws to finally move on with their lives!

This hopefully concludes what has probably been the most controversial house competition in the UK. At the same time, it is probably the most successful private win a house competition in recent years. The draw comes just a few days after the Commission issued a new advice note on house competitions, warning other competition organisers that each case is considered on its own merit.

Congratulations to the Wilshaws for pulling off this impressive feat and managing to sell their £1 million home in such a turbulent economic climate! It will be interesting to see if this will set the scene for more house competitions in the future, or if the continued uncertainty surrounding the legal framework around such competitions will continue to hamper these types of efforts.

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Waiting by the phone :)

I've got my fingers, arms and legs crossed and I'm waiting next to my phone for that life-changing call! Knowing my luck it probably won't be me but you can only hope!! Good luck everyone! Isa xx

Isa , 20 May 2009

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I'm really happy for them

Good on them, they took on the GC and won!! Good luck to the winner, unfortunately my guess is they've already heard the good news it'll just take a while for the rest of us to find out who it was....

Jeff , 20 May 2009

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