How Sweepstakes Work
A straightforward guide to understanding sweepstakes — and exactly how GoRoam goes above and beyond to earn your trust.
What Is a Sweepstakes, Really?
A sweepstakes is a promotional drawing where winners are selected entirely by chance. Unlike a lottery, a sweepstakes cannot legally require you to pay to enter. Unlike a contest, there is no skill or judging involved — every valid entry has an equal shot at winning.
Lottery
Requires payment to enter. Run only by government entities. Illegal for private companies.
ILLEGAL FOR BRANDSContest
Winners chosen by skill or merit. Judging criteria required. May charge entry fees.
SKILL-BASEDSweepstakes
Winners chosen by random chance. Free entry required. Purchase may earn entries if free alternative exists.
WHAT GOROAM RUNSThe Three Elements of a Lottery
Under U.S. law, a promotion becomes an illegal lottery when all three of these elements are present simultaneously. A legal sweepstakes removes the "consideration" element by providing a free way to enter.
Prize
Something of value is awarded to the winner
Chance
Winner is selected randomly, not by skill
Consideration
Payment or purchase is required to enter
What the Law Requires
Sweepstakes in the United States are governed by a combination of federal and state laws. There is no single "sweepstakes law" — instead, multiple agencies and regulations work together to protect consumers and ensure fairness.
No Purchase Necessary
Federal law requires that every sweepstakes must offer a free way to enter. This must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed in all promotional materials. The free entry method must provide the same odds of winning as any purchase-based entry.
Alternate Means of Entry
When a sweepstakes offers purchase-based entries, it must also provide an Alternate Means of Entry (AMOE) — a free method that is equally accessible, clearly disclosed, and provides the same odds of winning. Common methods include mail-in entries, online forms, or text message entry.
Official Rules
Every sweepstakes must publish comprehensive Official Rules that disclose: the sponsor's identity, promotion dates, all entry methods, eligibility criteria, how winners are selected, prize descriptions with approximate retail values, and all terms and limitations.
State Registration & Bonding
States like New York and Florida require sweepstakes with prize values exceeding $5,000 to be formally registered and bonded before launch. New York requires filing 30 days in advance; Florida requires 7 days. A surety bond equal to 100% of the prize value must be posted to guarantee prizes will be awarded as advertised.
FTC Truth-in-Advertising
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibits unfair or deceptive practices. All sweepstakes must be truthful, clearly disclose material terms, and not mislead consumers about their chances of winning, the value of prizes, or the conditions of entry.
Winner Tax Obligations
All prize winnings are considered taxable income. For prizes valued over $2,000, the sponsor must issue a 1099-MISC tax form and collect the winner's W-9. Winners are responsible for reporting all prize income on their tax returns regardless of value.
Federal Agencies with Jurisdiction
How GoRoam Goes Above & Beyond
Meeting the legal minimum is one thing. We believe you deserve more than that. Here is exactly what we do — and what most sweepstakes companies do not.
Registered & Bonded Sweepstakes
NY & FL State LawStates like New York and Florida require registration and bonding when total prize value exceeds $5,000. A surety bond guarantees prizes will be awarded as advertised.
We register and bond every single giveaway — even when our prize structure wouldn't technically require it in certain states. We file in advance, post full surety bonds equal to 100% of the prize value, and maintain active compliance throughout the entire promotion period. Our bonding documents are available upon request.
Independent Third-Party Administration
FTC Best PracticeWhile not always legally mandated, the FTC recommends using an independent administrator to ensure fairness and avoid conflicts of interest in winner selection.
We use a licensed, independent third-party sweepstakes administrator for every giveaway. They handle winner selection using certified random number generation, verify eligibility, and manage all prize fulfillment documentation. GoRoam has zero influence over who wins.
Live Winner Announcements
Beyond Legal RequirementThe law requires that winners be selected randomly and that a winner list be made available upon request. There is no requirement to announce winners publicly or in real time.
After our independent third-party administrator selects the winner, we call them live on Instagram so the entire community can watch the winner find out they won in real time. No scripted reactions. No pre-recorded reveals. The raw, genuine moment is shared with everyone watching.
Documented Prize Delivery
Beyond Legal RequirementThe law requires that prizes be awarded as described. There is no requirement to document or publicize the delivery process.
We fly every winner to our location for a documented prize pickup. We film the entire experience — the handshake, the keys, the first drive. These videos are published publicly so future entrants can see that real people win real prizes. Every winner is a real, verified person.
Nicholas B. picks up his Winnebago EKKO — Winner Day
Free Entry (AMOE)
Federal Law — RequiredEvery sweepstakes must provide a free Alternate Means of Entry (AMOE) that offers the same odds of winning as purchase-based entries. This must be clearly disclosed.
Our free entry method is clearly stated in our Official Rules and prominently disclosed on our website. The AMOE is designed to be fair — because the law says equal odds, and we mean it. Be weary of companies that don't have "No purchase necessary" in multiple places on the site, social posts or ads.
Full Official Rules Published
FTC Disclosure RequirementOfficial Rules must disclose all material terms: sponsor identity, dates, entry methods, eligibility, winner selection process, prize values, and limitations.
Our Official Rules are written as clearly as possible. Our goal is not to confuse you. They are linked from every page of our site, available before you ever make a purchase, and include every detail about how entries work, how winners are chosen, and what happens after you win.
Veteran-Founded, Mission-Driven
Brand ValuesThere is no legal requirement for a sweepstakes to support charitable causes or operate with a social mission.
GoRoam was founded by a United States Marine Corps veteran with a mission to inspire adventure and give back to those who served. We are a proud partner of the Semper Fi & America's Fund, with over $15,000 donated to date. This is not a faceless corporation running giveaways — it is a small, veteran-owned business built on integrity.
Real Winners. Real Prizes. Documented.
Every winner is flown to Utah for a documented prize pickup. Every winner is called live on Instagram so the community can watch them find out they won. Here are real moments from real winner days.
Carl F. — Subaru Outback Prize Pickup Day
Nicholas B. — Winnebago EKKO Prize Pickup Day
Why Transparency Matters to Me
When I started GoRoam, I knew the sweepstakes space had a trust problem. Too many companies hide behind fine print, make it impossible to verify winners, or disappear after collecting entries.
I built GoRoam the way I would want it if I were the one entering. Every winner is called live on Instagram so the community can watch them find out in real time. Every prize pickup is filmed and documented. Every rule is published in plain language. We register and bond in every state that requires it — not because we have to for our size, but because it is the right thing to do.
If you ever have a question about how we operate, reach out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. GoRoam Supply Co. operates fully registered and bonded sweepstakes in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. We use an independent third-party administrator for winner selection, publish complete Official Rules for every giveaway, call winners live on Instagram so the community can watch, and document every prize delivery publicly. We have awarded over $350,000 in prizes to date with 100% of winners verified and documented.
No. Federal law requires that every sweepstakes offer a free way to enter, and we fully comply with this requirement. Our free entry method (Alternate Means of Entry) is clearly described in our Official Rules. Purchasing products from our store does earn entries, but you are never required to purchase anything to participate in our giveaways.
Winners are selected by our independent third-party sweepstakes administrator through a certified random drawing process. GoRoam has no influence over the selection. Once the winner is chosen, we call them live on Instagram so the entire community can watch the winner find out in real time. The prize pickup is then filmed and published on YouTube.
When your entry is selected, you will be called live on Instagram so the community can watch you find out in real time. Our third-party administrator then verifies your eligibility and identity. You will need to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility and, for prizes over $2,000, a W-9 tax form. Once verified, we fly you to Utah for a documented prize pickup day. You drive away with your prize — and we film the whole thing so future entrants can see that this is real.
Yes. Under U.S. tax law, all prize winnings are considered taxable income. For prizes valued over $2,000, we are required to issue a 1099-MISC tax form and collect a W-9 from the winner. You are responsible for reporting prize income on your tax return. We recommend consulting a tax professional if you have questions about your specific situation.
Absolutely. Visit our Past Winners page to see every winner we have ever selected. Each winner includes their name, state, prize won, and links to the live winner call and prize pickup documentation on YouTube. We believe in full transparency — if we say someone won, you can verify it yourself.
Our sweepstakes are legally compliant in all 50 U.S. states. We register and bond in states that require it (New York, Florida), comply with all state-specific disclosure requirements, and structure our promotions to meet the most stringent standards across all jurisdictions. Eligibility is limited to U.S. and Canada residents aged 18 or older.
Our Official Rules are linked in the footer of every page on our website and prominently displayed on our giveaway pages. They contain every detail about how the sweepstakes works, including entry methods, eligibility requirements, prize descriptions, odds of winning, and the complete terms and conditions. We encourage you to read them before entering.
See It for Yourself
Check out our current giveaway, read the official rules, or look up your entries. Everything is open, documented, and verifiable.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. See official rules for complete details.