Pub quiz rules: a fair set you can copy (phones, teams, ties and prizes)

Most quiz night arguments aren't about the questions. They're about the rules nobody wrote down. Can you have seven in a team? Does "Napoleon" count for "Napoleon Bonaparte"? What happens when two teams finish level?

Decide it once, write it down, read it out, and stick to it. Here's a set you can copy, with the reasons behind each rule.

The rules card

Print this, put it on every table and read the short version out before round one.

Teams of up to six. Bigger teams split into two.
One answer sheet per team. Write your team name on every sheet.
No phones for looking things up. Phones face down on the table during rounds, unless the quiz is played on phones.
The host's decision is final. If you think we've marked something wrong, come and see us quietly at the break.
We mark what's written. If two answers are written, we take the first.
Spelling doesn't matter if it's clearly the right answer. Surnames are enough for people, unless the question asks for the full name.
Late teams are welcome, but missed rounds can't be made up.
Ties are settled by one tie-breaker question. Closest answer wins.
Staff can play for fun but can't win prizes.
Prizes must be claimed on the night (or by the date on the prize card).
Over 18s only for alcohol prizes.
Be nice to the host. They're doing their best.

Why each rule is there

Team size

Six is the usual limit. Bigger teams have an unfair edge and are louder. If a group of ten turns up, help them split into two teams. They often enjoy the rivalry.

Phones

Phones are the most common cause of rows. Make the rule clear and fair: face down during rounds. If someone needs to take a call, they step outside. If you catch a team cheating, have a quiet word the first time and take the round's points the second time. Be consistent.

If your quiz is played on phones, the rule becomes "no searching". Short time limits on each question help a lot. We wrote about what works with phone quizzes, including cheating.

Marking

Decide your marking rules before the night and say them out loud:

Spelling: allowed if it's clearly the right answer.
Surnames: enough unless the question asks for the full name.
Numbers: exact unless the question says "to the nearest".
Two answers written: the first one counts.

Swapping sheets between tables for marking saves time, but some teams mark harder than others. Marking at the bar is slower but fairer. Whatever you choose, do the same every week.

Disputes

The host's decision is final, but a good host listens. If a team shows you that you were wrong, and they're right, give the point and say so to the room. People respect that. If you're not sure, give the point to everyone who wrote that answer.

Ties

Have one tie-breaker question ready with a number for an answer. Closest wins. We've got a list of pub quiz tie-breaker questions you can use, with sources.

Prizes and entry fees: the rules that aren't yours to make

Some rules come from the law, not the host. This isn't legal advice. If you're not sure, ask your local licensing team.

Free entry is simplest

The Gambling Commission says prize competitions rely on "an element of skill, knowledge, or judgment" to decide the winner. That's what keeps a genuine quiz out of the lottery rules.

The Commission also says simple multiple choice questions usually aren't enough on their own. If you charge entry and pay out a prize, make sure your quiz is a real test of knowledge, and read the Commission's guidance first.

No betting

Don't let anyone take bets on the quiz, and don't run a "cash pot" that grows with the entry money unless you've checked the rules. Commercial betting isn't allowed in pubs at all.

Prizes and drinking

The mandatory licensing conditions ban irresponsible promotions, including prizes that reward buying or drinking alcohol over 24 hours or less where that risks the licensing objectives. A bar tab for the winners is fine. A prize for the team that drinks the most is not.

Say what the prize is, up front

The advertising rules for promotions, in the CAP Code, ask promoters to make clear things like the number and type of prizes, any restrictions and how winners are picked. For a pub quiz, that's one line on the rules card. Our post on prizes that bring people back has a template.

Read the rules out every week

Even regulars forget. A 30-second version at the start saves a 10-minute argument at the end:

Teams of six, phones face down, the host's word is final, spelling doesn't matter, and the tie-breaker is closest wins. Good luck!

How StockTap TV helps

When teams answer on their phones, the marking is automatic and the scores go up on every TV, which takes a lot of the heat out of disputes. At our place in Washington, the Tuesday quiz starts at 7:30pm, and between quiz nights our Quick Fire phone quiz runs every 20 minutes with a £20 weekly bar tab. Short answer times make looking things up much harder. See Quick Fire, or join the founding pubs.

Frequently asked questions

How many people can be in a pub quiz team?

Six is the usual maximum. Say it at the start and help bigger groups split into two teams.

Are phones allowed in a pub quiz?

Not for looking things up. The usual rule is phones face down during rounds. If the quiz is played on phones, the rule is no searching, and short time limits help.

Is it legal to charge entry for a pub quiz?

A genuine quiz decided by skill or knowledge is a prize competition, not a lottery, according to the Gambling Commission. But it says simple multiple choice questions usually aren't enough. Free entry is simplest. If you charge, read the Commission's guidance or ask your licensing team.

What happens if two teams draw?

Use one tie-breaker question with a number for an answer. Closest wins. Decide this before the quiz starts.

Sources

Gambling Commission: Definitions, from Understanding the consumer landscape in free draws and prize competitions
Gambling Commission: Pubs and clubs toolkit
legislation.gov.uk: The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2014, Schedule
ASA and CAP: The CAP Code, section 8: Promotional marketing

We checked every source on 24 October 2026. Rules change, so check the latest version before you act. Nothing here is legal advice.