{"id":6893,"date":"2026-10-21T12:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loteraise.com\/what-is-a-sweepstake-explanation-for-dutch-organizations\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T14:58:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T14:58:47","slug":"what-is-a-sweepstake-explanation-for-dutch-organizations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loteraise.com\/en\/what-is-a-sweepstake-explanation-for-dutch-organizations\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a sweepstake? Explanation for Dutch organizations"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What is a sweepstake? Anyone who reads English marketing texts encounters this word regularly. It is often used for a giveaway where chance determines who receives a prize. The meaning and legal implications can vary by country. Below are the concepts that Dutch organizations most often confuse.<\/p>

Sweepstake or sweepstakes<\/h2>

In everyday marketing use, both spellings refer to a campaign with an element of chance. Think of a registration that qualifies someone for a prize or a code that potentially wins. The English name does not yet tell you how you may offer the campaign in the Netherlands.<\/p>

Promotional game of chance<\/h2>

This is the Dutch category for a game of chance that promotes a product, service, or organization. The Kansspelautoriteit<\/a> (Gaming Authority) explains that participation is free and that the campaign must comply with the associated code of conduct. The game of chance is a means to promote something, not an independent revenue model.<\/p>

Fundraising lottery<\/h2>

Here, a participant usually buys a ticket to compete for prizes and support a cause. That is a different setup than free participation in a promotional campaign. Therefore, do not simply call a paid lottery a sweepstake to give it a different character.<\/p>

Prijsvraag or contest<\/h2>

In a contest, the quality of an entry can determine the outcome. A jury choosing a photo based on assessment criteria does something different than randomly drawing one photo from all entries. Simply adding a question is not enough to know how the campaign should be categorized.<\/p>

Instant win<\/h2>

Here, the participant hears a result immediately. That says something about the timing of the outcome, not automatically about the legal category. A digital scratch layer, a code, or a vault can present such an immediate game moment. The underlying selection method must be clearly defined separately.<\/p>

Three examples, three different questions<\/h2>