Comping vs. Sweeping: a Q&A with Sweepstakes Advantage

Ever wondered what comping is like across the pond?

Today I am talking to Kenneth Carlos from Sweepstakes Advantage. Back in the 1990s his wife Diane became successful winning prizes as a stay-at-home mom, so the couple decided to build a platform to help others do the same – and sweepsadvantage.com was born! I caught up with Ken to ask him about the differences between UK comping and US sweeping… you can also read my own article on the Sweeps Advantage blog.

When did Sweepstakes Advantage start?

We started the website in July of 1997. Back then there were maybe only four sites about sweepstakes – and we are the only one remaining! Today we have 684,895 registered members.

What’s the format of the website and how do your members use it day-to-day?

The format is a hybrid directory style. You can view the website by category or use our search. Many of our members use our My Sweepstakes area to create a private list of sweepstakes. It’s very helpful for daily entry sweepstakes. We also have several other features like SweepsCheck to keep track of entries.

Tell me about the Sweepstakes Plus subscription – what extra benefits do members get?

There are actually quite a few. The most important one is access to the full database of sweepstakes. This now additionally includes Gaming, TikTok, Instagram, X, Canada Only and overflow categories like Plus and Daily Plus. In addition to this members get access to our extensive added features like Email Sweepstakes Alerts, Custom My Sweepstakes and Power Search.

How would you describe the sweeping community in the US – are they competitive amongst themselves?

The hobby is definitely growing. The people who enter each day call themselves sweepers. There is some competition naturally among our members but our community is very encouraging and respectful.

What type of sweepstakes and contests are most popular in the US?

Instant win sweepstakes are still the king of popularity due to knowing that you’ve won right away, and we list all of them at Sweeps Advantage, as well as social media giveaways (including Instagram and TikTok).

Which big brands are the most generous with their prizes?

The beverage brands are definitely the most generous according to our data – Coke, Pepsi and adult beverages like Coors and Budweiser. 

Are there many judged tiebreaker competitions?

There are some, but not many.  Usually judging happens when there is a promotion that requires creative submission – like essays, pictures and videos portraying what the brand requires. Some contesters claim these can be easy to win. My wife Diane won a Hungry Man judged contest by writing an essay about why her husband was the hungriest!

Are there laws governing the administration of contests and sweepstakes?

In the United States each state can separately stipulate governing laws. For example, in Florida you have to register your sweepstakes with the state if the total value of the prize is over $5000. There is also a filing fee that must be paid by the sponsor or advertising brand. Other states with similar laws are New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. A common workaround many sponsors use is to exclude New York and/or Florida residents from eligibility, as this lets them run the promotion nationally without the extra filings.

The SuperLucky community enjoys ‘Purchase Necessary’ promotions, where we have to buy a specific product to enter a prize draw. My understanding is that in the US, this is considered an illegal lottery, so is there usually a free entry route?

At the federal level in the United States there is no single comprehensive federal law that requires registration, bonding, or licensing like you see in Florida and New York. However at the federal level you are not allowed to charge a fee to enter a sweepstakes unless you have a free alternative method or AMOE (Alternate Method of Entry) in the official rules – this is usually a postal or email method of entry.

What happens if a company doesn’t run their promotion properly?

There are active agencies that go after sponsors who don’t award prizes — especially the FTC and state Attorneys General. The risk is higher if you used postal mail, broadcast media, or operated in strict states like Florida or New York.

How does paying taxes on prizes work? In the UK we get to keep our prizes 100% tax-free, but US sweepers have to declare their wins to the IRS! How does this tax rule actually work? Do sweepers ever have to turn down big prizes like cars or holidays because they can’t afford the tax bill?

Yes we have to pay taxes on winnings. There is a special tax form that winners of bigger prizes will receive. Some winners will turn down prizes due to the cost of taxes. In other cases the sponsors will sometimes include a special extra cash prize to help with the burden of taxes on very big prizes.

In the UK, brands rarely tell us our chances of winning instant wins. But in the US, I understand brands are legally required to publish the odds for certain types of instant win promotion? Do US sweepers use the published odds to decide which sweepstakes to focus on, and whether to make multiple entries?

The instant win promotions for big brands like Coke and others will usually state what the odds are in their instant win games. Some sweepers will probably look at the odds but I think the majority just like playing the instant win games no matter the odds!

What are some of the biggest prizes Sweepstakes Advantage members have won?

They have won every sort – from homes, land and vehicles to major trips and big cash prizes. Last week one of our Plus subscribers won $10K in credit to shop for furniture. It happens on a weekly basis. When you take into account that we probably list close to a billion dollars in sweepstakes prizes each year there is good chance for it to be reported on Sweepstakes Advantage!

What do you love most about your job?

First and foremost seeing some people where their lives have changed due to sweepstakes they won after finding them on our website. In other cases where people are very humble and appreciate even the small prize wins.

Do you go to any Sweepstakes Conventions?

We have gone to several conventions in the past, and they are a good way to connect with other people in the hobby. The best one in our opinion was in Orlando several years ago where many people won big cash prizes!

Have you ever considered creating a Sweepstakes Advantage app?

Our sites SA and Plus are both mobile optimized. Screens should auto format for mobile devices like iPad and cell phones. An app would be interesting to build!

What are the most popular prizes in the US right now?

Always gift cards, cash and Venmo. But there are other prizes like special trips and cruises that are always popular as well. It depends on the individual.

What advice would you give to a brand new sweeper?

Don’t expect to win right away. There is a saying “hard work creates luck”. Put the effort into it and see what happens. In most cases if you put the work in you will be successful. You should also ask lots of questions and educate yourself. Many people new to the hobby will go for months not using the best methods for entering sweepstakes.

Thank you so much for giving us an insight into sweeping, Ken!

Find out more at www.sweepsadvantage.com