2012年的竞赛规则有4大变化：
1，改变岛屿台与非岛屿台通联及非岛屿台与非岛屿台通联的计分规则，以提升和岛屿台通联的重要性。
2，终止非岛屿台的多人组别。这些台只把岛屿台做系数，与大量的非岛屿台QSO数量。改变规则同样是为了提高岛屿台的重要性。
3，对岛屿多人组电台，引入QSY规则，
4，允许低功率远征台使用任何天线。
2012新规则链接：
http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2012/riota.shtml Dear IOTA Contest participant
This is to tell you about some rule changes, new for this year’s contest (28/29 July). There are four main changes:
1. Scoring for Island-World and World-World QSOs is changed, to increase the importance of working island stations – the main aim of the contest.
2. Discontinue the World Multi-op category (for the same reason). These stations have many non-island QSOs, with only their multiplier station working islands.
3. Introduce a QSY rule for Island Multi-Op stations, because some entrants have been operating with more than one multiplier station.
4. Allow Low Power expedition entrants to use any antenna. This was previously limited to a single element – many entrants have asked for this change.
