Sweepstakes: Everything You Need to Know

By  //  August 5, 2019

What are the Most Common Types of Sweepstakes?

Everyone loves a free giveaway, much more an instant chance to win a brand-new car, an all-expense-paid trip, or even a million bucks!

Everyone loves a free giveaway, much more an instant chance to win a brand-new car, an all-expense-paid trip, or even a million bucks!

It’s thrilling to know that with a company’s promotional scheme that could run from a simple photo submission or a retweet of a store’s anniversary post, you can instantly enjoy a luxurious time-out from the mundane of everyday life.

In this article, learn how you can stretch your luck as we explore key things about the most common game of luck everyone has adored through the years—sweepstakes!

Sweepstakes vs Lottery and Contest

Many people use the terms sweepstakes, lottery, and contest interchangeably when referring to promotional giveaways. However, did you know that these are not one and the same?

Each differ in the way mechanics are designed and the legal requirements or the lack thereof, before opening it for public participation.

Generally, sweepstakes is a promotional game plan that businesses use to boost an item or service. Sweepstakes run in the form of giveaways such as a car giveaway, cash an all-expense-paid trip, a home showcase, or basically anything that is of value.

Unlike contests, sweepstakes winners are picked at random and winners are determined based on chance and not on skills. There are sweepstakes promos, however, that encourage entrants to submit entries multiple times a day or a week to increase their chances of winning.

Meanwhile, as opposed to the lottery, which is also a game of luck, sweepstakes entrants don’t need to pay to play or present a proof-of-purchase to enter.

You can get a chance to win a sweepstakes prize by simply signing up for free. Otherwise, implementing entry fees to players makes the contest a form of lottery and shall be subjected to government regulation.

Also, remember that legitimate sweepstakes don’t make customers pay a fee to improve their chances of winning or to claim a prize.

What are the Most Common Types of Sweepstakes?

With the advent of the internet, a plethora of sweepstakes listings are now easily available in leading sweepstakes directories online like, Sweepstakes Advantage.

Although most sweepstakes directories are free, signing up for a premium subscription would give you extra perks such as the option to track your entries.

Although most sweepstakes directories are free, signing up for a premium subscription would give you extra perks such as the option to track your entries.

Here are some of the most common sweepstakes today:

  • Cash Sweepstakes
  • Single-Entry Sweepstakes
  • Instant Win Sweepstakes
  • Car Sweepstakes
  • Mega Prize Sweepstakes
  • Multiple Prize Sweepstakes

Tips on How to Win the Sweepstakes

Although sweepstakes generally pick winners, many successful sweepers have proved that there are strategies that can help you increase your chances of being victorious.

1. Know the Top Sweepstakes Online Directories or Aggregates

Traditionally, companies would accept sweepstakes entries primarily through snail mail. Some sweepstakes entrants would even allot a budget and time decorating their offline entries.

However, with the growing popularity of the internet, companies have now utilized social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and sometimes email, as official points of entry for their sweepstakes promotions.

If you want to take advantage of this mode of participation, be on the lookout for the top sweepstakes online directories today.

These directories are essentially online repositories of fun, current, and trustworthy sweepstakes you can enter. Each of these sites have collated some of the best, active sweepstakes available online.

The sweepstakes in each site can be categorized according to its frequency of accepting entries. It can be monthly, weekly,  daily, single-entry or instantly, where you can be a potential winner with every gameplay.

You can also browse sweepstakes by prize and brands.

The great thing about these directories is that it allows you to create your own account, subscribe, and get access to the forums and discussions by sweepers themselves. Some sites even have regular newsletters to keep you up-to-date.

2. Use Form-Filling Software

Entering the sweepstakes as often as the rules allow you to definitely increase your chances of winning. However, it can burn you out easily if you key in your entries manually. With the help of form-filling software, you can now key in your entry details accurately and easily.

These software are also equipped with special encryption features to ensure that your confidential data such as credit card and bank account details are securely stored on your device. Take note, however, that there are sweepstakes promotions that do not allow the use of auto-fill form software. Be sure to check those that will not disqualify your entries for using such software.

3. Always Read the Terms and Conditions

Before entering into any agreement, reading and understanding the fine print of any sweepstakes promotion you wish to participate in should come as a basic. Any exchange and use of personal data should be taken into account before filling in so many online or offline entries for your safety.

Sweepstakes is more than just a game of luck! With the aid of new tools and tactics, you can definitely develop a systematic way of snatching a grand prize. Are you excited to win your first sweepstakes? What are your strategies?

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