{"id":15277,"date":"2025-04-29T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/?p=15277"},"modified":"2025-08-01T04:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T08:12:09","slug":"how-to-do-a-legal-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-do-a-legal-giveaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Your Giveaways Illegal? (+How to Do a Legal Giveaway)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I used to think running a giveaway was as simple as offering a prize and picking a winner. But then I realized that without even knowing it, I could have been breaking the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most business owners don\u2019t mean to run illegal giveaways. The truth is, many just don\u2019t know the rules. I didn\u2019t either when I first got started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, I\u2019ll show you what actually makes a giveaway illegal, clear up a few common myths, and share real examples of what can go wrong. You\u2019ll also get a simple checklist to follow and see how I keep things legal using RafflePress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide is practical and beginner-friendly. It\u2019s not full of scary legal talk or hard-to-follow advice. If you\u2019ve ever worried you might mess something up, don\u2019t stress. You\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In this guide:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-what-actually-makes-a-giveaway-illegal\">What Actually Makes a Giveaway Illegal?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-the-myths-that-get-small-businesses-into-trouble\">The Myths That Get Small Businesses Into Trouble<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-how-to-do-a-legal-giveaway-in-the-u-s-the-smart-way\">How to Do a Legal Giveaway in the U.S.<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-real-giveaways-that-went-wrong-and-what-you-can-learn\">Real Giveaways That Went Wrong (and What You Can Learn)<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-how-rafflepress-helps-you-run-legal-giveaways\">How RafflePress Helps You Run Legal Giveaways<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-faqs-about-giveaway-legalities\">FAQs About Giveaway Legalities<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-actually-makes-a-giveaway-illegal\">What Actually Makes a Giveaway Illegal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before I learned the rules, I didn\u2019t know there was a legal difference between sweepstakes, contests, and lotteries. But it turns out those differences matter a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A sweepstakes is when winners are picked at random and <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/no-purchase-necessary\/\" title=\"Why Your Giveaway Needs to Be No Purchase Necessary\">no purchase is required to enter<\/a>. A contest is based on skill or merit, like voting or judging. A lottery includes all three elements: chance, a prize, and some form of payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you have a license, running a lottery is illegal in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if your giveaway asks people to buy something to enter, you might be crossing that legal line. Even something like \u201ctag three friends with no other way to enter\u201d could be a problem if it doesn\u2019t offer a free alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/what-makes-a-legal-giveaway.png\" alt=\"What makes a giveaway legal and how to do a legal giveaway\" class=\"wp-image-15284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/what-makes-a-legal-giveaway.png 630w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/what-makes-a-legal-giveaway-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/what-makes-a-legal-giveaway-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple rule I follow: If your promotion includes chance, a prize, and payment, or makes people work really hard to enter, it\u2019s likely a lottery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can learn more about these definitions in my full guide: <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/sweepstakes-definition-vs-contest-vs-lottery\/\" title=\"Sweepstakes Definition vs Contest vs Lottery\">Sweepstakes vs Contest vs Lottery<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s worth taking a moment to look back at your past contests with fresh eyes. A small detail might be the only thing standing between a legal giveaway and an illegal one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-the-myths-that-get-small-businesses-into-trouble\">The Myths That Get Small Businesses Into Trouble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest reasons small businesses run into trouble with giveaways is that they\u2019ve picked up the wrong advice, or just followed what everyone else is doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giveaway-myths-rafflepress.png\" alt=\"Giveaway myths that get small businesses into trouble\" class=\"wp-image-15282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giveaway-myths-rafflepress.png 630w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giveaway-myths-rafflepress-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giveaway-myths-rafflepress-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break down a few of the most common myths I\u2019ve heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Myth 1: \u201cIf I say \u2018no purchase necessary,\u2019 I\u2019m covered.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not exactly. If the free entry option is buried, confusing, or hard to access, it still might not meet legal requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Myth 2: \u201cEveryone does tag-to-win contests on Instagram\u2014so it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just because something\u2019s popular doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s legal. Social platforms don\u2019t police giveaway laws. That part is still on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Myth 3: \u201cIt\u2019s just for fun\u2014it\u2019s not really gambling.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, legal definitions focus on what your giveaway includes, not how you describe it. If it walks like a lottery, it might be treated like one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve seen these myths trip up brands that had the best intentions. This stuff isn\u2019t always obvious, especially when you\u2019re just trying to grow your audience or give back to your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-how-to-do-a-legal-giveaway-in-the-u-s-the-smart-way\">How to Do a Legal Giveaway in the U.S.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once I understood how giveaways are classified, I wanted a clear way to make sure mine followed the rules. This checklist is what I now follow every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Legal Requirement<\/th><th>What It Means<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free entry method<\/td><td>Never require a purchase or payment to enter.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Official rules<\/td><td>Write clear rules and make them easy to find.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eligibility requirements<\/td><td>Be specific about age, location, and any other limits.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Start and end dates<\/td><td>Include the time zone and don\u2019t change it mid-way.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prize details and value<\/td><td>Say exactly what the winner will get and what it\u2019s worth.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Winner selection method<\/td><td>Explain how you\u2019ll choose winners and when.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notification process<\/td><td>Let people know how and when they\u2019ll hear if they win.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Privacy notice<\/td><td>Tell entrants how their data will be used and stored.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Platform compliance<\/td><td>Follow the rules for wherever you promote your giveaway, like Instagram or Facebook.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want help writing the rules, here\u2019s a simple guide I use: <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-write-giveaway-rules\/\" title=\"How to Write Giveaway Rules\">How to Write Giveaway Rules Like a Pro<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you follow this checklist, you\u2019re not just protecting your business. You\u2019re also showing your audience that you run things fairly and transparently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-real-giveaways-that-went-wrong-and-what-you-can-learn\">Real Giveaways That Went Wrong (and What You Can Learn)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the best way to understand what not to do is to look at what\u2019s already gone wrong. These real-life examples show how easy it is to cross the line, and what to learn from each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-reeses-25000-promotion\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/reeses-sweepstakes-25000-6baba25eced7f8ac528252c0588f3ed0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Reese\u2019s $25,000 promotion may violate sweepstakes laws\">Reese\u2019s $25,000 Promotion<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reeces-sweepstakes-ad.jpg\" alt=\"Two packets of Reeses candy featuring a sweepstakes ad\" class=\"wp-image-15278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reeces-sweepstakes-ad.jpg 620w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reeces-sweepstakes-ad-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reeces-sweepstakes-ad-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: APNews<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this giveaway, people were told they could win $25,000 by entering codes found inside Reese\u2019s candy wrappers. But the free entry method was hidden <em>inside<\/em> the product, meaning people had to buy first to learn how to enter without paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lesson:<\/strong> You must clearly offer a no-purchase entry option upfront. Hiding it inside the packaging doesn\u2019t count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-gms-online-contest-data-breach\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/1999\/03\/gm-recalls-faulty-web-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"GM Recalls Faulty Web Site\">GM\u2019s Online Contest Data Breach<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1978-Firebird-Pontiac.jpg\" alt=\"1978 Firebird Pontiac\" class=\"wp-image-15279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1978-Firebird-Pontiac.jpg 630w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1978-Firebird-Pontiac-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1978-Firebird-Pontiac-50x29.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1999, General Motors ran an online sweepstakes for their Pontiac and Buick brands. A flaw in the contest website exposed personal information of over 13,000 entrants, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses. The issue happened because users could change the URL to access other people\u2019s data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lesson:<\/strong> Prioritize cybersecurity when you run online sweepstakes. A simple oversight can lead to a data breach, violating privacy and losing customer trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-royalux-competitions-prize-draw-controversy\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/watchdog-raps-prize-draw-after-it-was-won-by-suppliers-brother-m86vtrdx0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Prize draw won by supplier\u2019s brother rebuked by competition watchdog\">Royalux Competitions\u2019 Prize Draw Controversy<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Royalux_Competitions_secret-garden-makeover.jpg\" alt=\"Royalux Competitions the secret garden giveaway\" class=\"wp-image-15280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Royalux_Competitions_secret-garden-makeover.jpg 634w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Royalux_Competitions_secret-garden-makeover-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Royalux_Competitions_secret-garden-makeover-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: The Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, Royalux Competitions ran a paid-entry prize draw for a \u00a35,000 garden makeover and \u00a32,000 in cash. The winner turned out to be the brother of the garden makeover supplier. While the original terms excluded employees and their families, Royalux changed the terms after announcing the winner to allow it. The ASA ruled this was unfair and banned the competition in its original form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lesson:<\/strong> Never change your giveaway rules after it begins, especially to benefit someone with a connection to your business. Doing so can break trust and lead to legal or regulatory trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-p-louises-advent-calendar-raffle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/fabulous\/32305511\/plouise-advent-calendar-raffle-slammed-illegal\/\">P.Louise\u2019s Advent Calendar Raffle<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"515\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plouise-advent-calendar.jpg\" alt=\"P.Louise advent calendar\" class=\"wp-image-15281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plouise-advent-calendar.jpg 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plouise-advent-calendar-300x276.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plouise-advent-calendar-50x46.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: The Sun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This beauty brand sold raffle tickets for \u00a35 each, giving customers the chance to win big prizes like beauty bundles. But they didn\u2019t have a proper gambling license, and the event was investigated by UK regulators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lesson:<\/strong> Paid raffles are a type of lottery. If you&#8217;re charging for entry, you need the right legal permissions, no matter how popular your brand is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if your audience is excited and your intentions are good, skipping the legal steps can land you in serious trouble. These examples are a good reminder that small details matter a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-how-rafflepress-helps-you-run-legal-giveaways\">How RafflePress Helps You Run Legal Giveaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafflepress.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"301\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin.jpg\" alt=\"RafflePress best WordPress giveaway plugin\" class=\"wp-image-1321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin.jpg 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin-50x27.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re new to it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafflepress.com\" title=\"RafflePress - WordPress Giveaway Plugin\">RafflePress<\/a> is a WordPress giveaway plugin that lets you build and manage giveaways directly on your WordPress website. It takes care of the tech and legal details so you can focus on growing your audience and getting more entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I started using it after realizing how many little things could go wrong when <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/create-an-online-contest\/\" title=\"How to Create an Online Contest in WordPress (And Go Viral in 2025)\">running a giveaway<\/a>. Instead of trying to keep track of rules, entry types, and winner selection on my own, I now let RafflePress handle all of that for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RafflePress has a built-in rules section, so you can add your terms and conditions right into the giveaway widget. You don\u2019t need to write legal text from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/generate-contest-rules.gif\" alt=\"Easily generate contest rules in seconds\" class=\"wp-image-458\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Every giveaway includes a free entry method by default, which keeps you on the right side of sweepstakes law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/add-giveaway-actions.png\" alt=\"RafflePress free giveaway entry actions\" class=\"wp-image-4857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/add-giveaway-actions.png 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/add-giveaway-actions-300x248.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/add-giveaway-actions-50x41.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The plugin also includes a random winner picker. This keeps the process fair and avoids any awkwardness if you\u2019re running a sweepstakes instead of a skill-based contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"327\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pick-givaway-winner.jpg\" alt=\"RafflePress pick a giveaway winner\" class=\"wp-image-869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pick-givaway-winner.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pick-givaway-winner-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pick-givaway-winner-50x29.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I also like that RafflePress includes fraud protection, so things like duplicate entries and bots don\u2019t mess up the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since everything is hosted on your own WordPress site, you stay in control of how entries are collected and where the data goes. That\u2019s a big deal if you care about privacy and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rafflepress-entry-management.png\" alt=\"RafflePress entry management dashboard in WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-15042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rafflepress-entry-management.png 630w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rafflepress-entry-management-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rafflepress-entry-management-50x38.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the setup I trust when I want to run a giveaway that feels professional, fair, and legally safe, without spending hours double-checking every detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-faqs-about-giveaway-legalities\">FAQs About Giveaway Legalities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-accordion wp-block-hb-accordion\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>Do I need rules for every giveaway?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Yes, even for something as simple as a comment-to-win contest. Clear rules protect you and help participants know exactly what to expect.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>Can my giveaway require follows or tags?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">You can ask people to follow or tag friends, but you can\u2019t make it the only way to enter. Always offer a free method that doesn\u2019t require social engagement.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>Are Instagram giveaways legal?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">They can be, as long as you follow Instagram\u2019s promotion guidelines and include a no-purchase-required way to enter. Don\u2019t forget to state that your giveaway isn\u2019t sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>Can I pick the giveaway winner myself?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Only if it\u2019s a contest based on skill or merit, like judging photo entries. If you\u2019re running a sweepstakes, you need to choose the winner fairly and randomly.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-final-thoughts-on-running-a-legal-giveaway\">Final Thoughts on Running a Legal Giveaway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you\u2019ve seen what actually makes a giveaway legal, and what can get you into trouble if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is, you don\u2019t need to be a lawyer to run a safe and successful contest. You just need to follow a few clear rules and avoid the common mistakes most people don\u2019t know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you take the time to do it right, your giveaway builds trust, encourages more entries, and protects your business in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to run your next giveaway the smart (and legal) way?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try RafflePress today and launch a giveaway that grows your audience, without worrying about breaking the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/pricing\/\" style=\"background-color:#f3460e\">Get Started with RafflePress<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to go deeper or start planning your next giveaway, here are a few guides I recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-create-giveaway-images\/\" title=\"How to Create Custom Giveaway Images for Free\">How to Create Custom Giveaway Images for Free<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/giveaway-copywriting\/\" title=\"Giveaway Copywriting Tips That Drive More Entries\">Giveaway Copywriting Tips That Drive More Entries<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/contest-seo\/\" title=\"How to Use Contest SEO to Boost Your Website's Rankings\">How to Use Contest SEO to Boost Your Website&#8217;s Rankings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-pick-a-winner-of-a-giveaway\/\" title=\"How to Pick a Winner for a Giveaway (Fairly)\">How to Pick a Winner for a Giveaway (Fairly)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/best-online-sweepstakes-websites\/\" title=\"Best Online Sweepstakes Websites to Promote Your Contest\">Best Online Sweepstakes Websites to Promote Your Contest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each one is packed with beginner-friendly tips to help you grow faster and avoid the usual giveaway mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you liked this article, please subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCPtN7xV_892Pa6AcoOYzbAg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"YouTube - RafflePress\">YouTube Channel<\/a>\u00a0for RafflePress video tutorials. You can also find us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rafflepress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Twitter - RafflePress\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rafflepress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Facebook - RafflePress\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to do a legal giveaway? Learn the rules, avoid common mistakes, and run compliant contests the easy way with this beginner-friendly guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":15285,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2537,2536,2555,2538],"class_list":["post-15277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-contest-rules","tag-giveaway-rules","tag-how-to-do-a-legal-giveaway","tag-sweepstakes-rules"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15277"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15288,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15277\/revisions\/15288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}