How-to guide · 7 min read
How to run a sweepstake: the complete guide
Every good sweepstake comes down to the same five decisions. Here’s how to get each one right.
In this guide
- Choose your format
- Agree the rules up front
- Collect entries without the chaos
- Score it fairly (and automatically)
- Keep it alive all weekend
1. Choose your format
Mixed crowd, one big day: random draw. Sports fans, one event: picks pool. A group that meets every week: Last Man Standing.
2. Agree the rules up front
Publish the rules before anyone enters: how teams are picked, how scoring works, what happens on a tie, when entries lock.
3. Collect entries without the chaos
One link or access code, picks on their own phone, entries locked automatically at the deadline.
4. Score it fairly
Live scores every 60 seconds, rules applied identically for everyone. Nobody argues with a leaderboard nobody typed.
5. Keep it alive all weekend
Put the live leaderboard where people gather and let reminders and results emails go out automatically.