Many websites onthe internet offer great prize thru sweepstakes, contests, instant games and lottos. That ‘s why it is simple to confuse them and use these terms interchangeably. But sweepstakes are n’t the same as contests. The difference is kind of simple.
Contests require afactor of skill. You deliver the goods, be it a poem, an essay or a recipe and you win if you are adequate. Naturally, the product you deliver is generally employed 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 prize of luck; no element of ability comes in. A random winner is picked from the entries and offered anything from a television set to a chance to tour a favored holiday destination or massive money payments. Prizes depend on the promoter and the item they are promoting and may alter from basic items like t-shirts or scents to cars, homes, travel deals and enormous cash rewards.
In the US, 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 make sure that it doesn’t have all of the three elements. It can have any two, but not each one of them. Obviously, the 1st two elements can’t be evaded so that the 3rd one is left out. That ‘s why bonafide sweepstakes NEVER ask for an entry fee or compensation. In brief free sweepstakes are legit, paid ones are fraudulent! Sweepstakes can’t even demand a part of your prize.
So, what are some of the things you must keep an eye 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 regarded as void locations, meaning if you belong to this locality, you can’t enter.
Secondly, find if your age fits the criteria of the particular sweepstake. Most sweepstakes are open to the over 18 and over 21 classes. Neverthless some promoters permit kids over the age of 13 to participate under adult supervision.
Ultimately, see if there’s any restriction on the amount of entries you can send in. For instance, some promotions are single-entry contests; others let you enter once daily. Many permit unlimited entries. Frequency depends completely on the sponsor. You can ascertain it by going thru the Rules section.
Remember, before you enter any contest, it’s important to test out the guidelines ruling it. Why? It would be a pain to fill out all of the information and then discover at the base of the page ( or when you hit the submit button ) that you are not eligible for who knows what reason, isn’t it?
