A sweepstake is technically a lottery in which the prize is financed through the tickets sold. In the United States the word has become associated with promotions where prizes are given away for free. In other words, they specifically do not require a purchase to enter (these are called prize draws in the United Kingdom). Sweepstakes sponsors are very careful to dis-associate themselves from any suggestion that players must pay to enter, as this would bring them into conflict with lottery laws. The popularity of the term sweepstakes may derive from the Irish Sweepstakes, which was very popular throughout the world from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Sweepstakes typically involve aggressive enticements to enter a contest for fantastically large prizes; there should be no cost to the entrant to enter for the prize, with the exception of possibly being placed on a promotional mailing list. Winners should also not be required to pay a fee of any type to receive their prize.
Among the commonly known sweepstakes in the United States are the American Family Publishers Sweepstakes, Publisher's Clearing House and Reader's Digest Sweepstakes, each of which strongly persuade entrants to purchase magazine subscriptions by placing stickers on contest entry cardstock, while promising multi-million dollar winners who will be "announced on TV". The American Family Publishers sweepstakes has traditionally used paid advertisements during NBC's The Tonight Show to announce its grand prize winners (for many years, its celebrity spokesman was Ed McMahon).
Sweepstakes are also used by fast-food restaurants to boost business. One of the most popular has been the McDonald's Monopoly promotion. Soda companies also run sweepstakes, including the Pepsi Billion Dollar Sweepstakes game and the Pepsi Stuff loyalty rewards program that allowed Pepsi drinkers to accumulate points from packages and cups and redeem them for high-quality, free merchanside. Pepsi Stuff was Pepsi's largest and most successful long-term promotion ever and it ran for many years in the US and in many countries around the world.
Because of the perceived deceptive nature of sweepstakes, they are heavily regulated. The US, Canada, and individual US states all have laws covering sweepstakes, resulting in special rules depending on where the entrant lives. Notably, Canada and several European countries require entrants to solve a mathematical puzzle, making it a contest of skill, in order to overcome requirements that would classify sweepstakes as a form of gambling.
Sweepstakes must therefore be carefully planned to not only comply with local laws but curtail forms of entrant fraud and abuse. Before home computers were popular, a common method of entry was a mailed index card with the entrant's name and address. Massive computer-printed entries made a new requirement of "hand-printed". Laser printers able to mimic ink pen writing are also a problem for sponsors.
Entering sweepstakes by mail remains popular, although many also enter online. Sweepstakes hobbyists who enter by mail are often called "Sweepstakers". Many sweepstakers meet locally in "clubs" and nationaly at a yearly convention,where 800 people attended in 2006.The 18th National Sweepstakes Convention,will be held June, 2007 in Dearborn, MI. Conventions are hosted by a local club in a different state each year.
There is also a tradition of office sweepstakes, which usually take place over large sporting events (Melbourne Cup, Grand National, World Cup etc), where you put in a stake into the pot, and get a horse/team drawn out of the hat. The winner then takes the pot. A person who enjoys entering sweepstakes as a hobby is called a sweeper.
Etymology
The term originated in horse-racing, where each entrant would put up a stake, and the winner would sweep all stakes. The non-plural form sweepstake is probably a back-formation; compare the Belmont Stakes.
Sweepstakes on the Internet
Nowadays it is very convenient to enter sweepstakes over the Internet. There are many sweepstakes directories, some offering advanced features such as tracking which sweepstakes have been entered and possibly providing many different categorizations for the competitions listed. The most popular sites draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each day, also with a very large registered user base. For some entering sweepstakes is a hobby, perhaps even an obsession, where practicers compete against each other in the number of sweepstakes they have entered and even use software which can partly automate filling in the entry forms. Pepsi Stuff was one of the first major consumer programs to have a dedicated web site. In recent years Pepsi Stuff was largely administered online through a partnership with Yahoo!.
External links
- 18th National Sweepstakes Convention site
- Transcript: Talking to Ed McMahon
- Write 4 Your Home '07 Sponsored by International Arts and Film Foundation
