Oregon Sweepstakes Laws: Rules & Requirements

Oregon expressly prohibits misleading prize, contest and promotion statements. Additional rules apply to covered contests and sweepstakes communications.

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

Truthful prize and contest advertising

ORS 646.608(1)(p) specifically prohibits false or misleading statements about a prize, contest or promotion used to publicize a product, business or service. That makes the accuracy of the promotional offer an immediate concern.

Describe the actual prize, selection method and material restrictions. Do not advertise an unconditional win when the recipient only has a chance to win or must meet an undisclosed condition.

Sources: Oregon ORS 646.608.

Disclosures in contest and sweepstakes solicitations

ORS 646A.803 requires sweepstakes solicitations to disclose odds, or that odds depend on entries, the sponsor’s name and address, and the no-purchase entry procedure. Contest solicitations must disclose the judging method, final winner date, sponsor information and other applicable details, including outside judges’ identities or qualifications.

These provisions are not limited to mailed offers. For a judged photo/video competition, put the required information in the solicitation and keep the full rules consistent. Explain any public-voting stage and do not assume that calling an event a contest resolves how chance affects the result.

Sources: Oregon ORS 646A.803.

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 Oregon'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.