With large potential prizes and a simple-looking format, BOTB’s Spot the Ball competition often sparks curiosity about whether it can be cheated or “figured out.”
On the surface, it appears relatively straightforward — pick where you think the missing football should be — but behind that image sits a structured judging system and detailed rules.
This guide explains how the BOTB Spot the Ball competition works, what determines each result, and why claims of cheating or software shortcuts do not match the facts. Understanding the process can help you see how fairness is maintained and why every round depends on professional judgement, rather than any hidden formula.
What Is BOTB Spot the Ball and How Does It Work?
BOTB Spot the Ball is a UK-based skill competition that asks you to try and identify where you think the centre of a missing football should be in a real match photograph. You view an image where the ball has been digitally removed, then place a cross to mark your chosen spot.
After the competition closes, a panel of independent judges — typically ex-professional players and referees — reviews the same image. Each judge marks where they believe the centre of the ball would most likely be. Working together, they agree on a final “judged position.” The entrant whose chosen co-ordinate is closest to that final position wins the main prize.
Judging takes place after all entries are locked and that the process is filmed with an independent lawyer present. Recordings of these sessions are later published on the company’s website, so entrants can see how the decision was reached.
Prizes can vary between competitions. The most well-known is the Dream Car Competition, where vehicles worth up to £150,000 can be won, often with a cash alternative. Smaller “Lifestyle” draws may offer cash, gadgets, or holidays.
Ticket prices generally range from around 10p to £6, depending on the prize value. Entry caps differ by competition type and can range from 75 up to 1,000 tickets per person, depending on the game.
This setup makes Spot the Ball a skill-based competition — it relies on interpretation and reasoning rather than random chance — but it’s important to remember that results are subjective. Your chosen position is compared against the judges’ collective view, not a fixed answer.
Can BOTB Spot the Ball Be Cheated?
The idea of cheating in BOTB Spot the Ball surfaces often, especially online. However, the structure of the competition makes this extremely unlikely. The original image with the football intact is never shared publicly, and judging takes place only after entries have closed. At that point, all player data is locked, meaning entries can’t be seen or altered.
Judges assess the image independently, then discuss and agree on the final co-ordinate. BOTB confirms that neither staff nor participants have access to the judges’ decision before it is officially announced. Their independence and the presence of a supervising lawyer are part of the process intended to ensure fairness.
Because the outcome depends on how several professionals interpret visual cues like body shape, positioning, and eye-line, no software or mathematical tool can reliably predict the result. Even experienced players cannot consistently match the panel’s agreed point.
Buying more tickets may allow you to submit multiple guesses, but that simply gives you a wider spread of coordinates — it does not guarantee success. BOTB also prohibits any form of collusion, sharing of answers, or insider involvement. Breaking these rules could result in disqualification.
How Does BOTB Prevent Cheating?
BOTB separates every stage of the competition — entry, judging, and winner verification — to prevent interference.
- Entry phase: When you submit your marker, your entry is stored securely and timestamped. Once the closing time passes, it becomes unchangeable.
- Judging phase: Judges work in a closed session. They each view the same image and mark their choices before discussing them as a group. The final position is agreed, confirmed, and documented before any winner is announced.
- Verification: All judging sessions are recorded and reviewed. Short videos showing the process are then published on BOTB’s results page to demonstrate transparency.
Because of these safeguards, any attempt to manipulate outcomes — whether through unauthorised system access or insider knowledge — would directly breach the company’s published Terms and Conditions and could lead to disqualification or referral to the relevant UK authorities.
There is no guaranteed method to match the judges’ decision. Even two judging panels could reasonably place the ball in slightly different spots on the same photo. This variation is precisely why the competition qualifies as skill-based rather than random.
Are BOTB Spot the Ball Results Fair?
Fairness is built into how BOTB structures its’ judging and publishes outcomes. Each competition uses a unique football photograph, meaning no pattern or historical data can be used to forecast results. Entrants make their choices blind to others, and the judging process begins only after the entry period ends.
The final co-ordinate comes from the independent judges’ decision. While some entrants might expect a single “correct” answer, the competition’s fairness lies in its consistent method — a structured process that applies the same rules to everyone.
BOTB publishes video highlights from judging sessions showing where each judge placed their marker and how the final position was determined. This open publication allows players to see the process that led to the winning result.
Although fairness refers to the method rather than the outcome, transparency helps build confidence that the judging was handled correctly. Results can differ from personal expectations because football images leave room for interpretation, and different experts may read the same body language differently.
Common Myths About BOTB Spot the Ball Cheats
Several myths about cheating in BOTB competitions circulate online. Here are some of the most common, clarified:
- “Software can predict the winning spot.”
No programme can calculate the judges’ decision because the result doesn’t exist until judging concludes.
- “Old photos reveal a pattern.”
Every competition uses a new image and a new panel, so no historical pattern applies.
- “Insiders can leak results.”
Judging occurs independently, and no entrant or employee outside the judging room knows the outcome until the result is published.
- “Buying more tickets changes the result.”
The judges’ decision is unaffected by how many entries are made. Multiple tickets only provide more guesses, not any influence on judging.
Misinformation tends to appear on social media or unofficial forums, often from players who misunderstand how human judgement shapes the final result.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Unfair Play?
If you believe something is wrong with a particular competition, BOTB’s website provides official contact details for raising concerns. Gather any relevant evidence first — such as screenshots, order confirmations, or emails — and provide clear details of what happened.
BOTB’s Terms and Conditions outline how complaints are handled. If you remain unsatisfied after contacting them, you can ask about independent dispute resolution or report serious concerns to UK consumer authorities. This ensures that any potential irregularities are investigated through the correct channels.
Reporting concerns through official routes helps maintain trust in how competitions are run. Combined with filmed judging and open publication of results, these measures demonstrate that BOTB’s Spot the Ball is structured around transparency and independent decision-making.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**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.