Alabama Sweepstakes Laws: Rules & Requirements

Alabama free promotions: disclose material conditions, make free-entry advertising accurate and avoid false winner or prize-release claims.

Planning a free giveaway or photo/video competition open to Alabama residents? This guide focuses on ordinary commercial promotions with free entry, including random drawings and submission contests using judges or public voting. Paid entries or votes, purchase-linked promotions, charitable raffles and regulated prizes need separate analysis.

Editorial review: September 11, 2026. Sources are linked beside the guidance they support. This is an informational overview, not legal advice for a particular campaign.

Make the free offer accurate

The Alabama Attorney General enforces the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and has emphasized that “free” advertising must disclose its real conditions. For a brand giveaway, the form and promotional copy should accurately explain what an entrant must do and what the prize includes.

As practical drafting guidance, state age and residency eligibility, the closing date and any prize-use restrictions prominently. A description such as a free vacation should not conceal costs that materially change the offer.

Sources: Alabama AG: conditions behind free advertising.

Keep entry invitations separate from winner notices

The Attorney General warns consumers about prize scams and demands for upfront payments. A legitimate campaign should identify its sponsor and should not tell every lead that they have won or request a payment to release a prize.

For a free photo/video contest, explain judging or voting and follow that process. These are recommendations for clear administration, not an Alabama-specific statutory judging checklist.

Sources: Alabama AG prize-scam warning.

Registration and campaigns open to other states

For ordinary free commercial sweepstakes, the familiar prize-value filing regimes are in New York, Florida and Rhode Island. That does not remove Alabama's disclosure and conduct rules described above, or special rules for a different industry or format. See the registration guide and its sources for that distinction.

The state-law directory links to all 50 states and DC. A “void where prohibited” line does not itself define your eligible audience or complete a required filing.

Before opening entries

Use these practical drafting and administration steps alongside the applicable state rules:

• Identify the sponsor, eligible entrants, entry period and advertised prize.
• Explain the free entry method and how winners are selected. For submissions, describe judging criteria or voting stages and tie handling.
• Make advertisements, the form and full rules agree; do not imply an entrant has already won.
• Plan verification, notification and fulfillment, and retain the rules and selection records.

Federal advertising standards also apply. The FTC warns against misleading purchase prompts and prize claims; see its advertising guidance. Tax reporting and channel-specific rules are covered in the national sweepstakes guide.