Confusion about sweepstakes and gambling

[Fesatmas]

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

It can be said illegal depending on how the lottery mechanism and what aspects are included in it, I think there are still many who hold a Sweepstakes in the US.

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

The Sweepstakes is gambling if we have to spend goods or money as a condition we can follow gambling, if there are no conditions and we can follow it freely it is only giving prizes with the Sweepstakes system, and that is in my opinion not gambling because it is not the exchange aspect of our opportunity to be able to take the Sweepstakes.

[Hamphser]

What do you know about sweepstakes? I heard that some online casinos are using sweepstakes law to sidestep gambling regulations, they said users aren't really betting with their money but instead they are betting seepstakes ticket, this person also said that someone need to buy social coin and get those sweepstake tickets for free.

He also said that sweepstakes is not gambling and I am confused, he made mention of Stake.US as one of those online casinos using sweepstakes, I did my own research and it's said that sweepstakes are illegal, this is why I am confused.

Maybe those in the US on this forum can answer this question diligently?

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

When it comes about being illegal then it would really be pertaining on a certain law of a certain country.
In speaking about US then it would really be not that costing you an arm and leg when it comes on making up some research.
Unlike a lottery, sweepstakes can be run by individual corporations and are not required to be federally or state sanctioned. Also dissimilar to lotteries, sweepstakes require no purchase to enter. In fact, it is illegal to require purchase to enter.

Sweepstakes gambling or not? As long it does involved money then it is surely counted as gambling.As long it does involved money or funds for you to hope on
winning something then it would really be included on the criteria.

[robelneo]

The majority of people misinterpret lottery and sweepstakes as one because it involves luck, but sweepstakes do not necessarily mean gambling, gambling is very much associated with taking a risk, in gambling, you are the one who is in control of your pick or bet and you get that privilege because you are putting money on it, on sweepstakes you can get in without money involve and you have no privilege to pick your bet or choice, you can get in because they gave you the privilege to part of it, like a company launching a sweepstake for all its employees, you get in being a part of the company and the winner is random.

[Rruchi man]

The majority of people misinterpret lottery and sweepstakes as one

They are closely related, sweepstakes is a type of lottery, and lottery if you check the meaning is also a kind of gambling. So to answer this question

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

Sweepstakes is a kind of gambling I would say although it does not involve you using your money just like Superpicks on DSTV discussion I brought up before where people are expected to predict the outcome of games to win a prize money even without putting their own money. Without using your own money, some things still qualify as a kind of gambling.

[dothebeats]

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

So long as it is within regulations and the laws stipulated by the government, it isn't illegal.

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

It is! You are essentially taking a risk or a chance into winning something from a good/product that you bought. You still spent money, but not in a way that you use that money to participate in the stake. However since you are participating in something that includes chances and risk (that ticket or whatever that is connected with the good/product/whatever you bought), you are already gambling.

[Webetcoins]

Sweepstakes is basically gambling, but entry is free. The idea was enforced by the US afaik, and any sweepstakes claiming to be one that asks for an entry free would be illegal since it's at that point, called gambling.  I would differentiate between the two since sweepstakes involve (should involve anyway) no money, at all, in any form. You can compare it to a bonus so to speak in grocery stores or markets.

It isn't illegal in the US, in fact, afaik it started from the US, or at least, the idea that sweepstake was a form of having a chance of winning something without having the need to spend money.

But to be able to get a bonus like for example in the grocery, you will still need to shop therefore it isn't totally free. There is also gambling who use the idea of sweepstakes in order to cater wide audience. The only thing in gambling compared to the first one that we use as an example is that some gambling companies can offer free money. In the sweepstakes casino that I play they have faucet and weekly bonus.

There is also a game like feature which lets you earn some free credits daily, hourly or weekly. This isn't enough though for a true gambler. Depositing own money is still the way to go for them if they want to enjoy longer and possibly earn a better profit.

[Haunebu]

Sweepstakes isn't a gambling activity in my opinion since you aren't risking anything to try and win something. This is why it's completely legal in the USA op. Other countries conduct them too, but call them different names.

One of the most popular forms of sweepstakes is ecommerce sweepstakes which usually attracts a ton of users.

[Weawant]

What do you know about sweepstakes? I heard that some online casinos are using sweepstakes law to sidestep gambling regulations, they said users aren't really betting with their money but instead they are betting seepstakes ticket, this person also said that someone need to buy social coin and get those sweepstake tickets for free.

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

Sweepstakes aren't gambling, sweepstakes is closer to a lottery than gambling. You don't need to invest for you to win when you participate in sweepstakes but if you're gambling, you have to make deposit for you win a bet and that's one of the difference.

Sweepstakes shoudn't be illegally in any country including the US as it does no harm to those participating in the game. Participants are just participating in a game of chance without been obligated to bet their money so how is that wrong in the eyes for the law.

If there are casino hiding under the influence of been a sweepstakes when they're not then the authorities should do their investigation and close down any casino caught to be guilty and not punish every sweepstakes company by banning them in the country.

[Dunamisx]

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

It can be said illegal depending on how the lottery mechanism and what aspects are included in it, I think there are still many who hold a Sweepstakes in the US.

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

The Sweepstakes is gambling if we have to spend goods or money as a condition we can follow gambling, if there are no conditions and we can follow it freely it is only giving prizes with the Sweepstakes system, and that is in my opinion not gambling because it is not the exchange aspect of our opportunity to be able to take the Sweepstakes.

Sweepstakes is a form of gambling and is not an illegal one in general terms, we can also consider such gambling being used as an open entertainment sport events that brings about people coming together to share their pleasurable moment with this event in sport, those that also take advantage of it in gambling are mostly part of the organizers, shareholders or other professional bodies including some government agencies all come together in support of this kind of activities, while some don't even known it's another means of gambling.

[Porfirii]

This is the first time I hear about these sweepstakes, at least with that name, and I don't know how they will work in the US or other countries, but in Spain (and since most European countries ara based in the Continental Laws, in many other I guess) it wouldn't be considered as gambling because it doesn't involve a money bet: more like a free raffle, but as you don't pay anything I don't think betting rules apply.

On the other hand, although they are not considered gambling, if you win any prizes it is called a "taxable event" and you have to pay for it as it was an income (in kind or cash), but the prizes are normally so low that people usually don't declare them (100$ in Amazon for example? I don't wish to win them in my dreams, and it is still too little money to break ones head and figure out how to classify it).

[Cling18]

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

It can be said illegal depending on how the lottery mechanism and what aspects are included in it, I think there are still many who hold a Sweepstakes in the US.

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

The Sweepstakes is gambling if we have to spend goods or money as a condition we can follow gambling, if there are no conditions and we can follow it freely it is only giving prizes with the Sweepstakes system, and that is in my opinion not gambling because it is not the exchange aspect of our opportunity to be able to take the Sweepstakes.

Sweepstakes is a form of gambling and is not an illegal one in general terms, we can also consider such gambling being used as an open entertainment sport events that brings about people coming together to share their pleasurable moment with this event in sport, those that also take advantage of it in gambling are mostly part of the organizers, shareholders or other professional bodies including some government agencies all come together in support of this kind of activities, while some don't even known it's another means of gambling.

For me, entering sweepstakes constitutes gambling. Even if all that was required was the purchase of tickets, players still had to stake money on it in the hopes of winning the jackpot. It is well-known throughout the country, and many residents are hoping to win and transform their life with the money from the pot. Some players even spend a lot of money buying many tickets in the hope of increasing their chances of winning.
I'm not sure if sweepstakes operate similarly in other countries. I believe it should be regarded as gambling because participants are taking chances and hoping to win, but it's not as risky as other sorts of gambling.

[Eureka_07]

<snip>
1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?

AFAIK, sweepstakes are legal in US. However there might be some rules and regulations applied depending  of your residing state.

Regarding if it is a kind of gambling or not - no, it isn't. Did the participants wagered anything valuable to them? Did they paid for the tickets? If the answers are no, then it shouldn't be considered as a form of gambling. Sweepstakes is a marketing strategy of businesses wherein they giveaway prizes for the sake of promotion. From that context, all are free equals not gambling.

[so98nn]

I had Close occurrence with ones Website where I wanted to know the different between sweepstake and gambling. So I can answer this as per the experience I had earlier. For example, the website that I am talking about is micro task site where you can do tasks and earn money with it. In the same Website they have sweepstake section where you can collect ticket entries for it by doing the tasks and earn those sweepstakes entries for a prize that is decided.

Now the website belongs to the Australian region where if you want to have gambling site then they very strict rules for the same. When contacted support then also mentioned that sweepstakes does not count as gambling and hence they can run it smoothly on the website. I believe both of them are different.

[UmerIdrees]

He also said that sweepstakes is not gambling and I am confused, he made mention of Stake.US as one of those online casinos using sweepstakes, I did my own research and it's said that sweepstakes are illegal, this is why I am confused.

Sweepstakes is considered gambling and also it is very popular in the US. On my other topic regaring Gambling or gaming sites, the site i mentioned have sweepstakes gambling and those are very active sites in the US.

In most of the Sweepstakes casinos you gotto buy the gaming coins to play and gamble. The coins can be converted to cash anytime by the same vendors from whom you buy those coins. Both gambling and sweepstakes are very similar in nature and i have no doubt gettig to the conclsuion that sweepstakes is gambling.

[harizen]

Let's make it simple, as long as it requires money at stake, that is considered gambling.

Referring specifically to sweepstakes, it now depends on how the mechanics or type were made. There are sweepstakes in the form of free bet that requires no money at stake. On the other hand, there are sweepstakes that can be purchased with money which is usually associated with lottery outlets, at least from the situation here in our country.

I heard that some online casinos are using sweepstakes law to sidestep gambling regulations,

Maybe it best if we can have a reference for those online casinos involved.

However, should not be a big deal though to know as I'm more concerned if there's any crypto-gambling platform that was associated with that.

[moonwalkie]

1. Is Sweepstakes illegal in the US?
It's illegal in some states. You can read more on onlysweeps website

2. Is Sweepstakes gambling or not?
If you buy gold coins for your own money, then yes. If you just ues the AMOE methods to play for free, then I wouldn't really call it gambling. Possibly bait to gambling.