Category: Taxes

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

Prize Fulfillment Considerations for Your Next Sweepstakes or Contest

Prize fulfillment is the part of the sweepstakes or contest that consumers may love the best, but for the promotion administrator there is a lot more involved than putting a prize in the mail. Here are 6 things to consider when putting together a plan for prize fulfillment for your next sweepstakes, contest or instant win game. 1. Prize sourcing Giving away the latest goods, services, and experiences takes

March 11, 2020

How to Spot a Sweepstakes Scam

A sweepstakes scam, or poorly run promotion, gives legitimate sweepstakes agencies and promotional marketing companies a bad name. Know what to look for to spot a sweepstakes scam, or a company that runs them. Here is a list of things to look for in a sweepstakes, or game of chance, that you should avoid, or at least be cautious of: 1. Super low odds: Any sweepstakes where there will be

March 13, 2019

Run a Legal Giveaway

Trying to figure out how to run a legal giveaway? It’s easier than you think – or not, depending on where you are running your giveaway, who can enter, how you collect and use data, and what you are giving away. First, there are some basic things to know about the legalities of a giveaway. In the United States, a giveaway, or sweepstakes in legal terminology, is when you

September 30, 2016

Why An Affidavit is Required to Claim a Prize

Rosemary Stein, a former Vice President here at Marden-Kane, explains why an affidavit is necessary in a sweepstakes. An affidavit is a legal statement made in writing. Sweepstakes sponsors use this document to determine your eligibility to win a prize. The winner signing the affidavit declares the facts stated in the affidavit to be true, and confirms this under oath. The affidavit will ask you to confirm that: 1)

February 13, 2014

And the winner is…

As I move on to my 4th alternate for a Grand Prize I wonder why someone enters a sweepstakes if they don’t want to win? You want to believe that people take the time to enter sweepstakes because they want to win the Grand Prize (and learn more about your product). Then why is it so hard to get someone to accept a prize? Do they question the legitimacy of

January 18, 2013