How to Win Sweepstakes (Real Tips That Actually Work)
I’ve been entering online sweepstakes for years, and I’ve won a little bit of everything, fanny packs, movie tickets, gift cards, trips, even European vacations and years’ worth of products! I can say I officially own more fanny packs than one human ever needs 😂. But here’s the thing, winning isn’t luck alone. It’s consistency, strategy, and knowing where to spend your time.
This page explains exactly how I do it. I walk you through what actually works. If you follow these steps, you’ll always have entries out there, thousands of them, and wins start showing up. Checking your email (or mailbox!) becomes way more fun.
Start Here: How to Win Sweepstakes
This is exactly how I enter, what I focus on, and what actually works. Feel free to jump to whatever you want to know first.
The Basics
Getting Started With Sweepstakes (First Steps)
If you’re brand new, welcome! You’re about to have a lot of fun. The first thing I tell every new sweeper is to create a separate email just for sweepstakes. This keeps your personal inbox sane and makes prize emails easy to spot. You won’t get flooded with emails like most people think, and you can always unsubscribe later.
Next, go to my homepage and click through every page and enter all the sweepstakes you’re eligible for. That instantly puts you in hundreds of drawings. This will take some time, so plan a head, but if you’re serious about winning then it’s totally worth it! Then build the habit to check back daily. Enter the new sweepstakes, then hit the daily-entry category. That one simple routine is the biggest difference-maker, and it’s exactly how I win.
Do People Really Win Sweepstakes?
Yes. Constantly.
We got turned on to sweepstakes after friends of ours won trips, TVs, dirt bikes, all kinds of wild stuff. At first, we were skeptical. It felt too good to be true. But once we started entering consistently, the wins followed. You will get more emails, sure, but you’ll also get prizes. And that tradeoff is absolutely worth it!
How it Works
How Online Sweepstakes Work
Most sweepstakes are run by professional administrators like Merkle, Realtime Media, or US Sweepstakes (to name a few). They handle entries, drawings, and winner notifications for big brands. So if you win a major sponsor’s sweepstakes and hear from an admin company instead, that’s totally normal.
Every sweepstakes has entry limits, eligibility rules, and a deadline, but don’t stress; I break all of that down on each post so you don’t have to read fine print. And honestly? Most entry forms won’t even let you submit if you’re ineligible or the sweepstakes period is closed. When the entry period ends, winners are contacted to claim prizes, simple as that.
How Winners Are Notified (And How to Avoid Scams)
Most winners are contacted by email or the platform they entered on. It’s okay, and smart, to be cautious. If something feels off, you can always verify by contacting the sponsor or administrator directly.
Just don’t ignore messages. Many sweepstakes give you only a few days to respond. I have a full page with real examples of winner notifications if you want a deeper dive, but the rule is simple: trust, verify, respond on time.
Odds & Entry Rules
Entry Limits Explained (Daily vs Weekly vs Period Entry)
Every sweepstakes lists how often you can enter, and while one entry is all it takes to win, some formats give you way better odds. Daily-entry sweepstakes are gold. They usually take under a minute to enter and entering daily stacks your chances fast, especially if you use autofill for your info.
Weekly entries are easy to batch once a week (I usually do Sundays), and period entries are more spread out. I check those weekly or monthly depending on the length. The key isn’t perfection, it’s having a routine you’ll actually stick with.
Instant Win vs Drawing Sweepstakes
Honestly? Enter both.
Most instant-win games also include a grand prize drawing, so you’re automatically entered in both with one submission. Instant wins are fun because you know if you won right away, and they don’t require extra effort. Let the system work in your favor.
Strategy & Selection
Mail-In Sweepstakes: Are They Worth It?
Absolutely worth it.
Mail-in entries often have much bigger prizes, and the odds can be surprisingly good. We usually mail in at least one entry for every eligible sweepstakes, because one entry can still win. Sometimes, if the rules allow and the prize is big enough, we’ll mail in more.
Just don’t cut corners. These must be handwritten, and the rules matter. Take your time, follow instructions, and think of stamps as a tiny investment for huge upside. One time we submitted over 300 mail-in entries for a sweepstakes because the odds and prize were amazing!
How I Choose Which Sweepstakes to Enter
I don’t discriminate. A win is a win, lol.
The only sweepstakes I’m cautious about are tobacco-related promos and prizes with trips that don’t include travel. Many tobacco sweepstakes require that you to be a tobacco consumer, which I’m not. And, if I have to buy expensive flights to enjoy a prize trip, I usually pause and read closely to make sure the experience is worth the travel expense. If it is? I’m in!
My System
How I Track Sweepstakes Entries
I don’t. At all.
I enter and move on. Every day, I hit the new sweepstakes and then the daily-entry category. Once you’ve done this for a few weeks, it becomes second nature. No spreadsheets, no stress. The less mental energy I spend tracking, the more fun (and lucky) it feels 🍀
Real-Life Considerations
Taxes on Prizes: What You Need to Know
Yes, prizes are taxable. I know — not fun.
If a prize is valued over $600, you’ll usually receive a 1099. But honestly? Paying taxes on something you didn’t pay for still feels like a win. I’ll take that trade any day.
Best Types of Sweepstakes to Enter
Trips. Always trips.
They’re experiences I’d never plan myself, and that’s what makes them magical. We once won a hockey-themed trip that took us to three cities of our choice. We picked cities we wanted to explore, not teams we followed, and ended up witnessing a historic sports moment live! That’s something you can’t plan or buy.
Common Mistakes
Biggest Mistakes New Sweepstakes Entrants Make
Giving up too fast.
I’ve seen so many people quit after a week because they didn’t win immediately. Sweepstakes work best when they become a habit, not a chore. Enter daily. Get excited. Talk about the prizes you’d love to win. Start a group text with your sweepstakes friends so you can get exited together! The wins come, but only if you stick around long enough to catch them.
About the Author
Who is Sweepstakes Mom?
Hi! I’m Elizabeth, a mom to three amazing kids ❤️❤️❤️ and a longtime sweepstakes lover. My husband and I have been entering (and winning!) online sweepstakes for years, but things really took off when I started entering during those quiet nursing moments when my kids were babies. What started as a fun little hobby quickly turned into something way more exciting.
One of my favorite memories? When our youngest was still a baby, we won a European vacation and took her along as a lap infant. Total pinch-me moment… Winning sweepstakes has brought our family so many unforgettable experiences, and honestly, it just keeps getting better. If you’re curious how I got started (and how wild some of the wins have been), I share more of my story over on my full bio.
Want to know what winning looks like and how sponsors reach out?
Check out our How to Know If You Won a Sweepstakes guide.