A sweepstakes is a promotional drawing in which participants have the chance to win prizes based purely on luck, not on skill, knowledge, or performance. Winners are selected at random, making sweepstakes easy and accessible for everyone to enter.
Participants enter a sweepstakes by submitting their information through an entry form, mail-in entry, or another approved method. Once the entry period ends, winners are randomly selected from all eligible entries.
Sweepstakes are often confused with lotteries, but there is an important difference:
Lotteries usually require participants to pay to enter.
Sweepstakes in the United States cannot require payment to enter.
To comply with U.S. anti-gambling laws, legitimate sweepstakes must always offer a free method of entry, commonly referred to as “No Purchase Necessary.” This ensures that everyone has an equal chance to win, regardless of whether they make a purchase.
The “no purchase necessary” rule protects consumers and keeps sweepstakes legal. If payment were required, the promotion could be considered illegal gambling. By offering a free entry option, sweepstakes remain fair, transparent, and lawful.
Sweepstakes are widely used by businesses and organizations to:
Promote products or services
Increase brand awareness
Engage customers and grow mailing lists
Reward loyal customers
Sweepstakes are a fun and legal way to give participants the chance to win exciting prizes without risk or cost. As long as entry is free and winners are chosen by chance, sweepstakes remain a popular and trusted promotional tool in the United States
