Sweepstakes and contests are simply defined as a way in which a prize or multiple prizes are won by a winner or multiple winners. They are used as marketing tools to attract consumers to a specific product; place; game and so on. Just about any business can use them under strict laws.
Entrants into sweepstakes and contests do not need a skill in order to win. The outcome of them is determined entirely on luck. Larger grand prizes are used to entice entrants to participate but there are generally a variety of smaller prizes offered too. It is believed that the larger grand prizes are more enticing and attract more entrants than the smaller prizes do.
Businesses tend to gain the information used for entrance into the sweepstakes and contests to gather information on customers and many can abuse the process which is why it has become heavily regulated in many countries around the world. It is not typically allowed to make entrants pay in any way to enter, unless a product needs to be purchased. They are usually entered under the laws of lotteries and where gambling is outlawed, entrants are strictly not allowed to have to pay to enter.
The History of Sweepstakes and Contests
Sweepstakes and contests have a long history with the term for sweepstakes dating back to the 15th Century when a game where a stake was placed and a winner thus swept up the prize was popular. The sweepstakes and contests as we know them today however only became widely used in the 1950’s when advertisers came to the realisation that a promise of a prize drew in the crowds. They were considered a cheaper way to advertise a product or place and those that required the purchase of a product saw a rise in sales like ones attached to cereal boxes and so on
Modern laws do however decree that no purchase must be necessary to become an entrant and win a prize. Before the internet it was a process of filling in forms, reading through all of the supplied materials and posting them by hand but the online industry has made it much simpler with simply filling in the form and hitting send. Multiple online entrants don’t require extra postage fees, or any at all, and finding ones to enter is as simple as searching in the web browser.
Sweepstakes and Contests in the Casino Industry
Apart from products; vouchers and other giveaways, sweepstakes and contests in the land based and online casino industry have been known to giveaway cash prizes. These can be large amounts or small amounts or even credits for certain casino games. The online casinos also use them as marketing tools alongside special bonuses and promotions to entice players to return to the casino.
Generally VIP or loyalty club members are given immediate and automatic entrance into the various sweepstakes and other contests which as an incentive automatically makes them eligible for the prizes. Land based and online casinos do not only offer cash prizes but cars; shopping sprees; luxury items and even holiday getaways are up for grabs.