Topic: PHP Sweeps

[_tina_]

Hi,

I need to write a sweepstakes competition program.  I'm not really sure how a sweepstakes works fully. 

Has anyone got any experience with this? 

Thanks in advance

[teamatomic]

Are you wanting to know how one works or are you concerned with the regulations?


HTH
Teamatomic

[_tina_]

Hi Teamatomic,

Thank you for the reply. 

I'm actually looking for both.

Thanks!

Are you wanting to know how one works or are you concerned with the regulations?


HTH
Teamatomic

[teamatomic]

AS for coding. Sweeps have a definite start and end date. You also need to determine the entry type, daily, weekly, or once.

Then you need to decide on the entry method. Do users need to preregister or can they just surf in and enter an email addys and continue. One of the things that will determine this is the actual reason for the sweep. Are you merely harvesting addresses for a email campaign or are you trying to gain a user base. Or are you making a revenue producing ad display engine. Those above will determine how tightly you keep registration and entry type.

Next comes, what exactly are you giving away and what is its value. Value is not what you pay for it but its real world retail worth. Along with this is the geographical area to be allowed entry. This determines the rules and regulation that need to be followed.

Before I do a bunch of useless finger work. If you are US based let me know and I can tell you, as IANAL, what you need to be aware of and the pitfalls to stay away from. If you are not US based I cant be of help in the RR area.


HTH
Teamatomic

[_tina_]

Thanks Teamatomic, yes, this sweepstake is US based. 

AS for coding. Sweeps have a definite start and end date. You also need to determine the entry type, daily, weekly, or once.

Then you need to decide on the entry method. Do users need to preregister or can they just surf in and enter an email addys and continue. One of the things that will determine this is the actual reason for the sweep. Are you merely harvesting addresses for a email campaign or are you trying to gain a user base. Or are you making a revenue producing ad display engine. Those above will determine how tightly you keep registration and entry type.

Next comes, what exactly are you giving away and what is its value. Value is not what you pay for it but its real world retail worth. Along with this is the geographical area to be allowed entry. This determines the rules and regulation that need to be followed.

Before I do a bunch of useless finger work. If you are US based let me know and I can tell you, as IANAL, what you need to be aware of and the pitfalls to stay away from. If you are not US based I cant be of help in the RR area.


HTH
Teamatomic

[teamatomic]

OK. IANAL
With a sweep or any type of contest that does not have a raffle license, it must be free.
Free not only denotes free from monetary cost but also to court rulings means that the entrant cant be force to do an over amount of work to gain entry. Such as searching through every page of your site for clues, thats work and work=time=dollars=entry fee.

So...free.

Next come jurisdiction over the sweep. Since sweeps are not considered interstate commerce the feds stay out of it. Each state has their own rules and regulations you must adhere to for entrants form that state or to advertise the sweep in that state.

The two to note are FL and NY. Both are tighter in their regs than all other states. If your prize is over $500 in value you must register with the state licensing board. You must also comply with their advertising regs. The complete rules must appear in each ad. There are more but those are the worst.

For all states"
You also may not limit entries to just the internet. You must allow for entries to be printed out and sent in. If requested you must send a winners list to anyone who wants one. If the prize is over $600 you must send W-9 to the persona and the fed and state. This is not a one time total but an accumulative total over the tax year. Also if you are giving away large prizes you would be better off turning the sweep over to a corp that manages then as they can certify the drawing process as legitimate. Otherwise whos to know who really won and if its a scam or not. If you dont want to go through the expense make friends with a local notary of public and have them conduct the drawing.

We have developed a rather unique way. We print the entrants, one to a line on paper. We then stack and tack those to a wall. We then take the number of pages and make another paper with the matrix drawn on it. ie. if we have 100 pages of entrants we have a 10x10 matrix with a page number to a square. The notary then throws two darts. One at the matrix page so we have a winners page, the second at the page stack so we have a winners hole on that page. A second set of pages for a 1st runners up and a third set for a 2nd runners up, etc. If the pages are to thick for a dart to go through we lay them flat and finish the hole with a nail. The whole thing is caught on a D8 tape. A sheet signed by the notary is the stamped and the whole lot is put in a big manilla envelope and held by the notary. Winners letters are then printed and copied then given to the notary and compared to the master list then notary stamped and sent return receipt. The postal receipts are then included with the bundle. The returned receipts are then included along with the returned letter of eligibility. The prize is then sent return receipt and those are stored and the envelope is sealed and stamped and kept by the notary.

A note:
Unless you are giving away a large sum of money or a prize over $400 you are fairly immune to the regs, except if a states AG receives a complaint and decides to investigate. Thats where compliance to rules and the certifying of results come in to play. If everything is above board and the winners are not related to you or employees of the sponsor then there will be no investigation. You may be advised of certain requirements but you will usually not be slapped.

YMMV.


HTH
Teamatomic