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

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

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

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

Federal Lottery Laws Explained

According to Federal Lottery Laws, it is illegal to operate a lottery through the mail or over the telephone. Let’s begin by explaining what a lottery is…A lottery is generally defined as a promotion in which all three of the following elements are present: prize, chance, and consideration (otherwise known as, the “Standard Lottery Rule”). Most states follow this Standard Lottery Rule; and all 50 states and the District of

July 24, 2020

Mexico Sweepstakes Basics

Are you thinking of running a sweepstakes in Mexico? If the answer is yes, then you should note that the Mexico sweepstakes laws and regulations regarding promotions (e.g., games of chance and/or contests of skill) differ from US law and other countries. We compiled a list of frequently asked questions we typically receive regarding promotions in Mexico that should provide you with some general information during your planning stages. Is

May 13, 2020

McMillion$ and the Importance of Instant Win Game Security

If you aren’t sure why instant win game security is that big of a deal, you might want to watch the new HBO docuseries called McMillion$. It details the strange, and almost unbelievable, true story of how an employee at a promotional marketing company called Simon Marketing, a former competitor of Marden-Kane’s, committed fraud in the McDonald’s Monopoly games between 1989 and 2001, bilking McDonald’s and their customers out of

February 13, 2020