Though it's not as common a term in Australia as it is in other parts of the world, sweepstakes are very popular in the country, with many thousands of people taking part in them regularly for a chance to win prizes of all shapes and sizes. But what are sweepstakes and why do Australians love them so much?
What is a Sweepstakes in Australia?
A sweepstake in Australia is a competition in which anyone can enter for the chance to win a prize, usually in the form of a promotional product. Whereas these contests are referred to as sweepstakes in countries such as the USA, in Australia they tend to be called competitions, though they are more accurately termed 'trade promotion lotteries'. They are very different from online casinos, like Casino Midas in Australia, where prizes are actually money.
Whether you call them lotteries or sweepstakes, the name implies the open nature of these competitions in that anyone can enter to win and no skill is required to do so. As such, there are certain regulatory requirements that must be met by organisations looking to run sweepstakes, as opposed to those that want to run a competition that is based on skill instead.
An organisation looking to run sweepstakes in Australia must obtain a permit in order to do so. Some of the requirements of such a permit include informing winners within two days of the draw, redrawing for unclaimed prizes within a certain time frame, and keeping records of entries and winners. Sweepstakes prizes must also be suitable for entrants, eg. no alcohol for underage, etc.
Sweepstakes must also abide by other rules to be within legal limits in Australia. For example, if participants enter by purchasing tickets, ticket prices must be at the recommended retail price and not inflated. It must also be made clear to participants how and why their information may be collected and used. Failure to do so can result in steep fines of AU$1 million per breach for the responsible organisation.
Why Do Australians Love Sweepstakes?
Just like in the US, sweepstakes are very popular in Australia, with many people following and entering such competitions on a regular basis via websites that list them as they are launched. Such compers, as they are called, often meet up annually to discuss their experiences of taking part in competitions, with over 100 people converging on Queensland's Gold Coast for such a meeting in 2012.
What makes these competitions so appealing is mostly their open nature in that anyone can take part in them, thus giving everyone an equal chance of winning. In contrast to games of skill in which you are required to display some elements of enhanced ability, whether that be your ability to write a captivating story or take a stunning photo, games of chance do not require any special skills.
Australians also benefit from the fact that sweepstakes in the country are under strict control, which serves to protect them and their personal data, but also ensures the competitions themselves are carried out fairly, making participation both fun and safe.
