Reference

Glossary

Sweeper

Someone who enters sweepstakes often enough to have opinions about index cards. You can be one without announcing it.

Sweepstakes

A promotion that awards a prize by chance and is set up so you do not have to pay to enter. The legal sketch is on the three shapes.

Contest

A promotion decided by skill, a judge, or a correct performance, rather than by a drawing. Everyday speech mixes this up with sweepstakes. The rules usually do not.

AMOE

Alternate method of entry. The free route, often a mailed card, that is supposed to match a purchase entry’s odds. See mail-in entries.

No purchase necessary

The sentence that tells you a free route should exist. Find the route. Do not assume the banner is the whole offer.

Official rules

The sponsor’s binding description of eligibility, dates, odds, and how a winner is chosen. A listing is not a substitute.

Consideration

Something of value given for a chance to win. Prize plus chance plus consideration is the lottery problem sponsors try to avoid.

Instant win

A game that tells you quickly whether that play won. Odds are often printed. The screen may pretend you have skill.

Void where prohibited

Some states, or some prize types, are excluded. The rules name them. Guessing is how entries vanish.

Claim window

The time you have to answer when you win. Miss it and the prize can be redrawn.

Fair market value

The number US tax generally cares about on a non-cash prize. Not always the number in the ad.