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Contest & Sweepstakes Laws by State
Before you decide to run a contest or sweepstakes in the US, its best to ensure there are no specific laws or regulations prohibiting you from achieving your marketing efforts.
In addition to adhering to general promotion law, you’ll want to check into the various contest and sweepstakes laws by state to make sure everything is on the up and up. While some states loosely regulate, many closely monitor consumer promotions and as such, impose strict penalties on sponsors who do not follow them.
Your safest path in planning your next promotion is consulting with a sweepstakes administrator. In the meantime, please feel free to review a sampling of the laws by state below.
Contest and Sweepstakes Laws by State
Table of Contents
Alabama
Contests and sweepstakes in Alabama are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion involves alcoholic beverages.
For alcoholic beverage based sweepstakes and contests in Alabama, the state alcohol control board must pre approve the promotion as submitted on a prescribed form including official rules and advertising materials.
Alaska
Contests and sweepstakes in Alaska are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Arizona
Sweepstakes in Arizona are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Skill based contests involving a product purchase require registration with the Arizona Attorney General, along with a sworn statement regarding the product price attesting that the value was not increased during the contest period in order to increase business sales. A winner list must be supplied to the state within 10 days of awarding all prizes.
Arkansas
Contests and sweepstakes in Arkansas are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
California
For contests and sweepstakes in California, a prize winner cannot be required to pay or purchase a product in order to claim their prize.Additionally, sweepstakes and contest promotions in support of alcohol beverages cannot condition entry on visiting a licensed premise and all alcohol beverage sweepstakes must be open to residents of the entire state.In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in California are subject to general promotion law.
Colorado
Contests and sweepstakes offered via mailing are closely regulated. Certain comprehensive disclosures must be made in a prescribed format, including clearly advising the recipient of the mailing that he/she has not yet won, that a purchase or payment is not required and will not increase his/her chances of winning, the value of each prize and the odds of winning in a stipulated format.In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in Colorado are subject to general promotion law.
Connecticut
Sweepstakes in Connecticut are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Skill based contests requiring an entry fee for participation, should be looked at on a case by case basis. Otherwise, contests are subject to general promotion law.
Delaware
Contests and sweepstakes in Delaware are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Florida
Sweepstakes and other chance promotions with a prize pool valued at over $5,000 must be registered and bonded. Bond waivers are available for sponsors who have conducted registered promotions in the state for five consecutive years without incident. Filing a certified winners list upon completion of the promotion is required.
In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in Florida are subject to general promotion law.
Georgia
Contests and sweepstakes in Georgia are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Hawaii
Contests and sweepstakes in Hawaii are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Idaho
Contests and sweepstakes in Idaho are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Illinois
Contests and sweepstakes in Illinois are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Indiana
Contests and sweepstakes in Indiana are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion involves alcoholic beverages.
For alcoholic beverage based sweepstakes and contests in Indiana, the state alcohol control board must pre approve the promotion as submitted on a prescribed form including official rules and advertising materials.
Iowa
Contests and sweepstakes in Iowa are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Kansas
Contests and sweepstakes in Kansas are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Kentucky
Contests and sweepstakes in Kentucky are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Louisiana
Contests and sweepstakes in Louisiana are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Maine
Contests and sweepstakes in Maine are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion is marketed to minors.
For sweepstakes and contests marked to minors in Maine, sponsors may not collect health related or personal information from anyone under the age of 18 without first obtaining verifiable consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Maryland
Sweepstakes in Maryland are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.For skill based contests, a purchase cannot be required in conjunction with entry into the contest.
Massachusetts
Contest and sweepstakes in Massachusetts are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion is related to Tobacco.
Tobacco related promotions are prohibited in Massachusetts.
Michigan
Contests and sweepstakes in Michigan are subject to general promotion law
A store visit (without a purchase or attendance at a sales presentation being required) may be viewed as consideration deeming a chance promotion an illegal lottery.
Tobacco related promotions are prohibited in Michigan.
Minnesota
Contests and sweepstakes in Minnesota are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Mississippi
Contests and sweepstakes in Mississippi are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Missouri
Contests and sweepstakes in Missouri are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Montana
Contests and sweepstakes in Montana are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Nebraska
Contests and sweepstakes in Nebraska are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Nevada
Contests and sweepstakes in Nevada are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
New Hampshire
Contests and sweepstakes in New Hampshire are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
New Jersey
For contests and sweepstakes in New Jersey, a prize winner cannot be required to pay or purchase a product in order to claim their prize.In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in New Jersey are subject to general promotion law.
New Mexico
Contests and sweepstakes in New Mexico are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
New York
Sweepstakes and other chance promotions with a prize pool valued at over $5,000 must be registered and bonded. Filing a certified winners list upon completion of the promotion is required.
In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in New York are subject to general promotion law.
North Carolina
Contests and sweepstakes in North Carolina are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
North Dakota
Sweepstakes in North Dakota are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
For skill based contests, a purchase cannot be required in conjunction with entry into the contest.
Ohio
Contests and sweepstakes in Ohio are subject to general promotion law.
A store visit (without a purchase or attendance at a sales presentation being required) may be viewed as consideration deeming a chance promotion an illegal lottery.
Oklahoma
Contests and sweepstakes in Oklahoma are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Oregon
Contests and sweepstakes in Oregon are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Pennsylvania
Contests and sweepstakes in Pennsylvania are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Rhode Island
Sweepstakes and other chance promotions with a prize pool valued at over $500 must be registered with the state if there is a retail outlet in the state. Bonding is not required.
In addition to the above, contests and sweepstakes in Rhode Island are subject to general promotion law.
South Carolina
Contests and sweepstakes in South Carolina are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
South Dakota
Contests and sweepstakes in South Dakota are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Tennessee
Sponsors cannot require a winner to sign a publicity release in the state of Tennessee.
Otherwise, contests and sweepstakes in Tennessee are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Texas
Contests and sweepstakes in Texas are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Utah
Contests and sweepstakes in Texas are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Vermont
Contests and sweepstakes in Vermont are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion involves alcoholic beverages.
For alcoholic beverage based sweepstakes and contests in Vermont, the state alcohol control board must pre approve the promotion as submitted on a prescribed form including official rules and advertising materials.
Virginia
Contests and sweepstakes in Virginia are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state unless the promotion is related to Tobacco.
Tobacco related promotions are prohibited in Virginia.
Washington
Contests and sweepstakes in Washington are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
West Virginia
Contests and sweepstakes in West Virginia are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Wisconsin
Contests and sweepstakes in Wisconsin are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Wyoming
Contests and sweepstakes in Wyoming are subject to general promotion law and have no additional legal requirements specific to the state.
Visit the blog!
Our blog is an excellent resource for legal information, promotion strategy and promotion ideas. Feel free to browse around and call us with questions!
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Ask us a question!
If you have a questions about a particular state or promotion structure, let us know! We're happy to brainstorm and provide insights to ensure you're all set before your sweepstakes or contest goes live.