An instant win competition tells you whether you have won at the moment your ticket is issued, rather than at a draw days or weeks later. Every competition Treasure Square runs works this way, with a main prize draw sitting on top of it.
What "instant win" actually means here
Before a competition opens, every prize in the instant-win pool is assigned to a specific ticket number and that assignment is locked. When you buy, your ticket number is checked against the pool immediately. If it matches, you are told on the confirmation screen and the prize is settled there and then — cash and site credit land in your wallet, physical prizes move to fulfilment.
Nothing about that is decided after you enter. The full prize list, the quantity of each prize and the ticket numbers already claimed are all published on the competition page while it is running.
The main prize is a separate draw
Instant wins do not use up your entry into the main prize. Every ticket issued goes into the end-of-run draw regardless of whether it already won something, and that draw happens when the last ticket sells or on the published draw date, whichever comes first.
Prize types we settle instantly
Not every instant prize is cash. The pool typically mixes several kinds so that most runs produce a lot of winners rather than one.
- Cash, credited to your Treasure Square wallet
- Site credit, spendable on further entries or on squares in a treasure hunt
- Free tickets into the same or a future competition
- Discount codes
- Physical prizes, posted to you
- Map unlocks — free reveals on a live Treasure Square treasure hunt
Frequently asked questions
How do I know the winning tickets were not picked after I entered?
The winning ticket numbers are generated and stored when the competition is created, before any ticket is sold. The competition page shows which of them have already been claimed as the run progresses, so the pool visibly shrinks rather than appearing at the end.
Do I still get a main prize entry if I win instantly?
Yes. Every issued ticket is in the main prize draw whether or not it won an instant prize.
How fast are instant prizes paid?
Cash and site credit are in your wallet before you leave the confirmation screen. Physical prizes and gift cards need your delivery details, so we contact you.