The thrill of entering sweepstakes cannot be understated. If you’ve been thinking about participating in one, it is best to be prepared. So, we’ve outlined five important must-knows before signing up.
Every contest is not a sweepstake
While sweeps do fall under the broad category of contests, every contest is not a sweepstake. Two key factors determine whether a said contest is a sweepstake: the winner must be chosen randomly and not due to them having a certain skill or talent, and the contest must comply with the rules for sweeps. These rules will include eligibility criteria, limits on entry, as well an explanation of how the winner will be chosen.
No bias in choosing winners
The organizer of the sweepstake must be unbiased in their decision of choosing the winner i.e. the choice must be made purely by chance, and all participants must be treated as equals. So, no individual may have better odds of winning the prize over the other participants.
Meeting eligibility criteria
Before signing up for sweeps, ensure you check if you are eligible for entry. For example, some sponsors may require entrants to be employed with them full-time for the duration of the sweepstake, and may additionally have terms and conditions concerning particular promotions. It is imperative that such criteria be stated by the organizer and understood by the participant clearly to avoid disputes post the contest.
Follow the rules
In addition to official rules laid out by the states, abbreviated rules are also important. When employees are involved in sweeps, abbreviated rules can be commonly spotted in handouts and emails sent to them or placed on a bulletin board in a space that is most accessible to employees.
Check the prize
The prize is what attracts people to sweepstakes. Thus, it must be revealed in not just the official rules but the abbreviated rules, too. The organizer must provide clarity on the value of the prize. If that is unknown, a ballpark figure must be stated. This must be done only so that the winner isn’t disappointed if the prize doesn’t meet their expectations.
