Every listing on Sweepstakes Radar is manually reviewed by a real person before it goes live. Here's exactly what we check — and what gets a listing rejected.
How we verify sweepstakes is straightforward: every submission is checked against a five-point checklist by a real member of our team before it's approved. The internet is full of fake giveaways, expired contests, and misleading prize descriptions — our review process exists to filter those out. Listings that don't pass are rejected, no exceptions. Below is a full breakdown of exactly what we check and why.
Every legitimate sweepstakes is legally required to publish official rules. Our team locates and reads the official rules document before a listing is approved. We confirm the rules are publicly accessible — not hidden behind a login, not buried in a PDF that requires a download — and that they include the required information: entry period, prize description, eligibility requirements, odds of winning, and how winners will be selected and notified.
Rejected if: No official rules published, rules require account creation to access, or rules omit required disclosures.
Anonymous giveaways are a major red flag. Before approving any listing, we verify that the sponsor is a real company or individual with a traceable public presence — a business website, verifiable social media accounts, or a registered business entity. We cross-reference the sponsor name in the official rules with their online presence to confirm they are who they claim to be. Influencer and creator giveaways receive additional scrutiny, including verification of follower authenticity and past giveaway track record.
Rejected if: Sponsor cannot be identified, contact information is missing or fake, or the sponsor has a history of not fulfilling prizes.
Under U.S. federal law (15 U.S.C. § 8401), all sweepstakes must offer a free method of entry equal to any paid method. Every listing we approve must have a clear, accessible no-purchase-necessary entry option. We locate and test the free entry method ourselves — whether that's an online form, a mail-in entry option, or a toll-free phone number — and confirm it is genuinely free and equivalent to any paid entry path. Promotions that obscure or de-prioritize the free entry method do not pass our review.
Rejected if: No free entry method exists, the free entry method is significantly harder to find or use than the paid method, or the promotion requires a purchase to claim a prize.
Misleading prize descriptions are one of the most common issues we catch. We verify that the prize listed in our description — value, model, quantity, and any conditions — matches what the official rules actually state. For product prizes, we check that the listed retail value is accurate. For trip prizes, we verify what's included (flights, hotel, transfers, spending money) and what restrictions apply (blackout dates, expiration, travel companions). For cash prizes, we confirm the payment method and any tax withholding details.
Rejected if: Prize value is inflated, prize description omits material restrictions, or the listed prize differs from what the official rules describe.
We only publish listings for sweepstakes that are open for entry at the time of review. The entry period start and end dates are confirmed against the official rules, and we verify that the entry form or mechanism is live and functional. Listings are automatically removed from the site once their deadline passes — expired listings never appear in browse results. If a sweepstakes is announced but not yet open, it is held in a queue until the entry period begins.
Rejected if: The sweepstakes has not yet opened, the entry period has ended, or the entry form is non-functional.
Our verification confirms that a sweepstakes appears legitimate at the time of review. We cannot guarantee that sponsors will fulfill prizes after winners are selected, that organizers won't change their terms mid-promotion, or that every entry will be counted. We strongly recommend reading the official rules yourself before entering any sweepstakes, and never paying any fee to claim a prize. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts — and report it to us.
Do you review every single listing?
Yes. Every listing that appears on Sweepstakes Radar has been manually reviewed by a member of our team before it goes live. We do not auto-publish listings from any source.
What happens to listings that fail review?
They are rejected and never published. If a listing came from an organizer submission, the organizer is notified of the reason. We do not publish listings with unresolved verification issues.
How quickly are new listings reviewed?
Organizer-submitted listings are reviewed within 24 hours. Listings sourced by our team are reviewed before they are added to the queue.
What if a sweepstakes changes its rules after you publish it?
We encourage users to report changes or issues via the report button on any listing page. Our team reviews reports promptly and will update or remove listings if material changes have been made.
Do you verify influencer and social media giveaways?
Yes, and we apply additional scrutiny to social media giveaways. These are reviewed for sponsor authenticity, realistic prize fulfillment history, and compliance with FTC disclosure requirements.
Meet the people behind the reviews
Our moderation team brings years of sweepstakes experience to every listing review. Meet the team →