What is a video contest platform?

A video contest platform is software that lets you collect video entries, display them in a public gallery, run voting, and pick a winner — all in one place. Gleam handles submissions, moderation, and fair winner selection so you don't need separate tools.

What's the best video contest software for collecting submissions?

The best video contest software lets entrants upload videos directly or submit via YouTube and TikTok hashtags, blocks duplicates, and syncs every entrant to your email list. Gleam does all of this on a free plan to start.

How much does video competition software cost?

Gleam is free to start. Paid plans begin at $79/mo for the Package Pro tier, which unlocks popular video actions, unlimited campaigns, and team seats. You only upgrade when you need the advanced features.

How do I pick a winner in a video contest?

You can draw winners randomly, judge by panel, or open it to public vote. In Gleam, use the Winners tab to draw randomly, Make Winner to judge manually, or sort a voting Gallery by Most Popular for public vote.

Can I collect emails and leads from a video contest?

Yes. Every entrant can be synced straight to your email marketing platform or CRM, turning the contest into a lead-gen funnel rather than a one-off campaign.

Where can people submit and vote on videos?

Entries appear in a branded public gallery you can embed on your site or share by link. Voters don't need an account, and you can require an email to vote to capture extra leads.

Is there a free plan I can start on?

Yes. Gleam Competitions has a free plan where you can run fully functional campaigns, collect verified entries, and use standard social and email actions. There is no time-limited trial of the paid tiers, but you can upgrade anytime and your campaign data carries over.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Cancel from the Plans tab in your dashboard at any time. You keep full access to paid features until the end of your current billing period, then your account drops to the free plan. Your campaigns and data are not deleted.

Can I upgrade later, even after I have launched?

Yes, anytime, including mid-campaign. Upgrading unlocks your existing campaign data and adds entry methods, customisation, and integrations. We pro-rate the credit left on your current plan against the new one, so you only pay the difference.

What happens to my data if I cancel or downgrade?

It stays with you. Entry, user, and media data from any campaign you ran on a paid plan remains exportable after you downgrade, and you can upgrade again later if you need it.

How much does Gleam cost?

Gleam is subscription-based, with separate plans for each app (Competitions, Rewards, Capture, Galleries) and discounted Package plans for all four. Pay monthly, or yearly to save up to 25%.

What makes a giveaway an illegal lottery?

A promotion becomes an illegal lottery when it combines three elements: a prize, chance, and consideration (payment or purchase to enter). Removing consideration by offering a free method of entry with equal odds of winning makes it a legal sweepstakes in most jurisdictions.

Do I need to register my giveaway or sweepstakes?

In the US, registration and bonding are required in New York and Florida when the total prize value exceeds $5,000 and residents of those states can enter. New York requires 30 days notice before launch. Rhode Island has a separate registration requirement for retail-based promotions. The simplest fix is to keep your prize value under $5,000 or exclude NY and FL residents.

What does no purchase necessary mean and where does it have to appear?

No purchase necessary means entrants must be able to enter your giveaway without paying or buying anything. Federal law and the laws of all 50 US states require it. The phrase must appear in every piece of promotional content: social posts, emails, your campaign page, and your official rules. If you offer bonus entries for purchases, you must also offer a free method of entry with equal odds of winning.

What must giveaway terms and conditions include?

At minimum: sponsor name, address and contact details, a no purchase necessary statement, entry period start and end dates with time zone, all entry methods including any free alternative, prize description and approximate retail value, number of prizes, odds of winning, eligibility requirements including age and state restrictions, how and when the winner is selected and notified, prize claim deadline, tax disclosure, right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value, a void where prohibited statement, and the sponsor's right to cancel or modify the promotion.

Do sweepstakes laws vary by state?

Yes. While the no purchase necessary requirement applies in all 50 states, individual states add their own rules. New York and Florida require registration and bonding for prizes over $5,000, and Rhode Island requires registration for retail-based promotions. State Attorneys General actively enforce these requirements, so check the rules for every state your entrants can come from.

Does GDPR apply to my giveaway if my business is not in the EU?

Yes. If your giveaway is accessible to EU residents and you collect their data, GDPR applies regardless of where your business is based. The most commonly violated rule is making marketing consent a condition of entry, which is not permitted. Consent to marketing must be separate and optional.

Do I need a W-9 from my giveaway winner?

In the US, collect a completed W-9 from any winner whose prize is worth $600 or more, since you may need to issue a 1099-MISC. Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes on their prize, and your terms and conditions should state this.

Giveaway Legal Requirements Checker

Select your target market and see the sweepstakes rules, registration requirements, and terms and conditions your giveaway must include before launch.

Giveaway and sweepstakes laws differ in every market. In the US, prizes over $5,000 can trigger registration and bonding. In the EU, GDPR governs how you collect entrant data. This free tool covers the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, and shows you what you must do, what you should do, and what to watch out for.

This is a guide, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by situation. If your prize is high value, your audience is large, or you are unsure, consult a lawyer before launching. This guide covers the most common scenarios for brands running digital giveaways.

Permits, Registration

and Bonding

Sweepstakes Registration and Bonding Rules

Free entry is not enough on its own. Australia has a state-by-state permit system, the US requires registration in New York and Florida for prizes over $5,000, and the UK just needs genuinely free entry. The tool tells you which requirements apply to your market.

GDPR Rules for Giveaways

GDPR applies even if you are not based in the EU. If your giveaway is accessible to EU residents and you collect their data, it applies regardless of where your business operates. The most commonly violated rule: you cannot make marketing consent a condition of entry.

Giveaway Terms and Conditions Checklist

Every country covered has a different checklist of what must appear in your terms and conditions. The tool outputs the full list for your market so you can write or review your T&Cs against it before you launch.

Start from a Giveaway Template with Built-In T&Cs

Every Gleam competition template includes terms and conditions support, so you launch compliant from day one.

Explore Templates

Restaurant Email Signup Popup

Email Signup Popup

Email Signup Banner

Floating Email Signup

Build Pre-Launch Email List

Grow Your Email List

Email Signup Coupon

Pre-Launch Email List Builder

Go Deeper on Giveaway Rules and Compliance

Everything from writing official rules to picking winners fairly.

Contest & Sweepstakes Laws by State in the U.S.

Ahron Burstin

12 min read

Your Guide To Australian Competition Permits

Stuart McKeown

3 min read

No Purchase Necessary Laws

Ahron Burstin

14 min read

Giveaway Features That Keep You Compliant

Package Pro

from

$79/mo

Complete access to 4 growth apps

90+ entry actions and methods

Unlimited campaigns

Email support

Invite up to 3 team members

Create a Free Account

Built-In Terms and Conditions

Every campaign includes terms and conditions support, so the required items for your market are covered before you launch.

Free Entry Methods (AMOE)

Offer a genuinely free way to enter alongside bonus actions, with equal odds of winning, so purchase-linked entries never turn your giveaway into a lottery.

Random and Verifiable Winner Selection

Draw winners randomly and show entrants the selection was fair, matching the winner selection terms your rules commit to.

Country, State and Age Restrictions

Restrict entry by location and minimum age to exclude markets you have not registered in and meet eligibility requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions about Giveaway Laws

What Does "No Purchase Necessary" Actually Mean?

Actions are the steps entrants take in Gleam campaigns to earn entries or unlock rewards: subscribing, visiting, following, answering questions. Most are auto-verified, a few need manual checking.

Do I Need to Include AMOE in International Giveaways?

Do I Need Official Rules to Run a Giveaway Legally?

How Can I Run a Legal Sweepstakes in the United States?

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