Sweepstakes must be approved to ensure that they are compliant with known regulations. This helps safeguard your organization from legal complications.
Please note that Givebacks is not qualified to offer legal advice, and organizations should always utilize their own legal team to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal organizations.
When does my Sweepstakes go through the approval process?
Once a Sweepstakes is published, it goes through a short approval process before it goes live. The approval process can take up to 24 hours, though it often takes less time than that.
What items are reviewed during Sweepstakes approval?
1) The rules reflect the correct eligibility.
By default, anyone in the US and Canada is eligible to participate and win. Please review the rules and let us know if you would like to leave them as is or edit the eligibility for certain geographic areas. Only the Givebacks team can edit the rules.
2) There is a three-day minimum between the entry deadline and the stated drawing date.
All entries must be received or postmarked by the entry deadline. To comply with the equal dignity clause, sufficient time between the “Stop selling entries date and time” and the “Drawing date and time” is required to allow the free entries to reach the Givebacks office and be entered into the drawing. Please be sure to leave at least three days between these dates.
3) Bond requirements are met.
If the total prize value of all prizes is greater than $5,000, a surety bond and registration are required for the state of New York to include New York residents in the drawing. If your organization is not a 501(c) organization, the same requirement applies to the state of Florida.
Your Campaign must be completely set up before acquiring the bond. No changes to the Campaign are allowed once the bond has been obtained.
Givebacks will provide you with all the information you need to navigate the registration and bonding process. We will introduce you to our partner, who can help you acquire the bond or use your own bond company. Should you wish to forego this step, you may exclude New York (or Florida) residents from your sweepstakes. Our staff can edit the official rules with these exclusions.
The cost of registering a charity sweepstakes in New York is $100 (plus express shipping fees), and the cost of a surety bond is 2% of the value of the prize(s) (plus express shipping fees). The same fees apply if you are required to register in Florida. Please contact us if you need registration and bonding or if you want to exclude New York (or Florida) residents from your Campaign.
How can I speed up the Sweepstakes approval process?
Organizations can speed up the process by reviewing the items above and ensuring they are compliant in each area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sweepstakes approval take?
The approval process typically takes up to 24 hours after you publish your Sweepstakes Campaign, though it often completes faster. Your Campaign will go live once approved.
Can Givebacks edit the official rules for my Sweepstakes?
Yes, only the Givebacks team can edit the official rules. Contact us if you need to modify eligibility requirements or exclude certain geographic areas from your Sweepstakes.
Do I need a surety bond for my Sweepstakes?
If your total prize value exceeds $5,000, you’ll need a surety bond and registration for New York residents. Non-501(c) organizations also need this for Florida residents. The bond costs 2% of your prize value.
Can I make changes to my Sweepstakes after getting a bond?
No, your Campaign must be completely set up before acquiring the bond. No changes are allowed once the bond has been obtained, so finalize all details first.
What happens if I don’t want to include New York or Florida residents?
You can exclude New York or Florida residents from your Sweepstakes to avoid registration and bonding requirements. Our staff can edit the official rules to reflect these exclusions.
Questions? Click the "?" icon to contact Givebacks Support.