The ABC's of Sweepstakes
ByTariq
Ansari
Many websites on the internet offer huge winnings through sweepstakes,
contests, instant games and lotto's. That is why it is easy to confuse
them and use these terms interchangeably. But sweepstakes are not the same
as contests. The difference is quite simple.
Contests require an element of skill. You deliver the goods, be it a
poem, an essay or a recipe and you win if you are good enough. Of course,
the product you deliver is generally used by the promoter; failing which
there may be an entry fee for participation.
Sweepstakes on the other hand give away prizes purely on chance. They
are winnings of luck; no element of skill comes in. A random winner is
picked from the entries and offered anything from a TV set to a chance
to tour a favored holiday destination or huge cash payments. Prizes depend
on the promoter and the item they are promoting and may vary from basic
items like t-shirts or perfumes to cars, houses, travel deals and enormous
cash rewards.
In the United States, sweepstakes are legal while lotteries are not.
Three common elements define both sweepstakes and lotteries. They are
• Prizes
• Chance winners
• Compensation
To avoid becoming an illegal lottery, a sweepstake must ensure that
it does not have all the three elements. It can have any two, but not all
of them. Obviously, the first two elements cannot be avoided so the third
one is left out. That is why legitimate sweepstakes NEVER ask for an entry
fee or compensation. In short, free sweepstakes are legit, paid ones are
fraudulent! Sweepstakes cannot even demand a portion of your winnings.
So, what are some of the things you need to look out for while entering
sweepstakes? First, check out if the sweepstake applies to your location.
Some locations like Quebec, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Florida are considered
void locations, meaning if you belong to this locality, you cannot enter.
Secondly, find if your age fits the criteria of the particular sweepstake.
Most sweepstakes are open to the over 18 and over 21 categories. However,
some promoters allow children over the age of 13 to participate under adult
supervision.
Lastly, see if there is any limit on the number of entries you can send
in. For example, some promotions are single-entry contests; others allow
you to enter once daily. Many allow unlimited entries. Frequency depends
entirely on the sponsor. You can ascertain it by going through the "Rules"
section.
Remember, before you enter any contest, it is important to check out
the guidelines governing it. Why? It would be a pain to fill out all the
information and then discover at the bottom of the page (or when you hit
the submit button) that you are not eligible for whatever reason, isn't
it?
Sweepstakes Advantage -
The Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes, Freebies & Contests!
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