Hawaii Sweepstakes Laws: Rules & Requirements

Hawaii free-entry promotions: understand the prize, chance and consideration distinction before choosing a drawing or submission contest.

Planning a free giveaway or photo/video competition open to Hawaii 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.

The distinction from gambling

Hawaii’s gambling definitions in §712-1220 address staking or risking something of value on a contest of chance or a future contingent event. Its lottery definition likewise involves payment or an agreement to pay something of value for chances to win.

The scope of this guide is a genuinely free promotional drawing or submission contest. Do not add an entry charge, paid votes or a required purchase and assume that the same analysis still applies. A free-entry label must match the actual mechanics.

Sources: Hawaii Revised Statutes §712-1220.

Describe judging and voting accurately

Hawaii’s definition of a contest of chance considers whether chance materially affects the outcome, even if skill is also involved. Calling something a contest does not settle that question.

For photo/video submissions, use published judging criteria or explain the public-voting process. As practical administration steps, set submission and voting deadlines, define tie handling and preserve the selection records. Avoid random tie-breaks if the campaign is being presented as decided entirely on merit.

Sources: Chance and gambling definitions.

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 Hawaii'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.