Lotteries are different than sweepstakes in that they offer prizes to members of the public by chance, but require some form of payment in order to participate.
Lotteries are illegal except when conducted by states and certain exempt charitable organizations.
While there are fees for lotteries, absolutely no purchase is necessary in order to enter or win a sweepstakes. When there is no actual sweepstakes drawing or prizes, consumers lose all the money they send. If the product is received, it is usually of poor quality. Being aware of what to look for in authentic written sweepstakes promotions will help you avoid being caught by a fraudulent operation. Prize Promotion Schemes Prize promotions, also known as premium promotions, are often confused with sweepstakes.