Minnesota Contest and Sweepstakes Laws
Yes, a free-to-enter giveaway is generally fine in Minnesota. Minn. Stat. § 609.75 treats a chance promotion as a lottery only when entrants give consideration.
- A lottery is a plan awarding prizes by chance to people who gave consideration for the chance.
- Paying for a 900 number or another channel that pays the sponsor counts as consideration.
- In-package chance promotions have their own conditions, including free entry without buying the package and the end date on the label.
- Minnesota has no special sweepstakes registration or bonding rule in the statutes we checked.
Beyond these points, the general US rules on free entry and clear official rules likely apply.
Gleam generates Terms & Conditions for every Competition. Tick A Purchase or Donation is Required to Complete This Action on any paid Action and Gleam adds a free entry alternative. On the Pro Plan and above, Restrict Entries by Location can limit entry to the US, but it works by country, not state. To leave out a state, add the State field on the Pre-Entry tab and name the excluded states in your terms.
This isn't legal advice. Check your promotion with a lawyer licensed in Minnesota before you launch.
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How Can I Run a Legal Sweepstakes in the United States?
Make entry free, publish complete official rules and register and bond the promotion in New York and Florida if prizes total more than $5,000.