Category: Administration & Compliance

Sweepstakes Winners: W-9’s and 1099’s in 2026

Account Director, Cheryl Thornton provided updates for 2026 in this informative post on what sponsors need to know about filing and processing winner W-9’s and 1099’s for their promotions. There is an important update that all Sponsors of Promotion Games of Chance need to know concerning filing and processing winner W-9’s and 1099’s in 2026. Back in 2016 we posted an article on our website explaining how Sponsors offering and

November 10, 2025

The Difference Between Sweepstakes and Contests

Katie Blaney, one of Marden-Kane’s former Account Supervisors, explains the difference between sweepstakes and contests. If your company wants more information on either, give us a call at 516-365-3999. The words “promotion,” “sweepstakes,” “contest,” and “giveaways” are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there are a few very distinct differences between sweepstakes and contests. To start, the word “promotion” can be used to describe many different marketing tactics including Sweepstakes, Contests, Instant

May 2, 2025

What is “Consideration” in a Sweepstakes?

Account Supervisor Cheryl Thornton contributed this post on consideration. Consideration has many definitions, but when it’s included in a Game of Chance such as a Sweepstakes, the promotion could be violating federal, state and local laws and regulations governing Sweepstakes and Contests. When a promotion combines the elements of (1) prize, (2) chance and (3) consideration, it is a Lottery. All lotteries, except those which are state operated are illegal

April 29, 2025

The Facts About Prizes Revealed

Fae Savignano, SVP, contributed this post about prizes. Research shows that more than half of all adults in the U.S. enter at least one sweepstakes every year, and this amount increases exponentially. Promoting Sweepstakes and Contests are an excellent way to engage and retain your customers and a properly structured prize offering will definitely enhance your endeavor. Let’s face it, the chance of winning an expensive and alluring prize is

April 26, 2025

5 Ways to Run a Flawless Beauty Pageant

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, making any kind of beauty pageant subjective. It then follows that if you are having a beauty pageant, you must look at it as a contest, and in most parts of the world that means you will also need to have Official Rules for your contest, and predetermined criteria within those rules. If you want to run a beauty pageant here are

May 6, 2021

How to Do a Giveaway on YouTube

Brands and influencers have learned that the best way to build their YouTube audience is to run a sweepstakes or giveaway on YouTube. A giveaway is the perfect opportunity to ask people to like, comment and share your content with the world in exchange for an entry. You must use caution when running a giveaway, however, to ensure you do not get into any trouble with YouTube or the law.

April 7, 2021

Run a Legal Pay to Play Sweepstakes

The newest promotion trend is to run a pay to play sweepstakes where you can earn entries with purchase. For many e-commerce providers, a sweepstakes with the chance at winning a high value prize can be used to boost sales or donations. Every dollar spent can earn an entry into the sweepstakes, and bonus entries can be earned for purchasing certain products or making a purchase at a certain time.

March 26, 2021

5 Ideas for a Successful Cinco de Mayo Promotion

Cinco do Mayo has become a huge party day in the bar and restaurant business. You can take your party – whether it be in your restaurant or via a takeout box — to the next level with these five ideas for a Cinco de Mayo promotion. 1. Run a Cinco de Mayo Social Sweepstakes or Contest Run a social sweepstakes or contest on Twitter or Instagram for a chance

March 19, 2021

March Madness: How to Run a Bracket Challenge

March means the return of flowers, longer hours of daylight, St Patrick’s Day – and March Madness. The annual bracket challenge basketball tournament is known to basketball fans and non-fans, on TVs in bars and in homes across the country, where people talk about their picks to win it all. A bracket challenge like the March Madness tournament can be a fantastic promotion vehicle for your business, and you can

March 11, 2021

Put That Sweepstakes Data to Work

The primary reason our clients say they want to run a sweepstakes is to be able to put that sweepstakes data to work to find new potential clients and increase sales. A sweepstakes is a terrific way to achieve those goals! However, if you do not make sure you follow data privacy laws and consumer protection guidance, then that data you collect as part of a sweepstakes campaign can not

February 12, 2021