Minnesota Sweepstakes Laws: Rules & Requirements

Minnesota prize notices have a payment-related statutory scope. Explain prize value, odds and conditions accurately without assuming every web form is covered.

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

When the prize-notice statute applies

Minnesota §325F.755 defines a covered sponsor through payment, or the impression that payment is required, to receive, use, compete for or obtain information about a prize. It prescribes disclosures about value, odds, charges and other conditions, subject to exemptions.

Check that trigger before applying the statute’s detailed notice requirements to a wholly free online drawing. Conversely, do not call a promotion free while making the recipient believe payment is necessary to receive the advertised benefit.

Sources: Minnesota Statutes §325F.755.

Drawings, judging and public voting

Minnesota’s gambling definitions in §609.75 are separate from the prize-notice requirements. The actual role of chance and consideration matters; compliance with a notice rule is not approval of every game format.

For the free submission format covered here, publish the judging criteria or voting process, dates and tie handling. Keep entry and voting free and reassess the rules before introducing paid participation.

Sources: Minnesota 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 Minnesota'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.