Frequently Asked Questions
Consumer Questions
What is the difference between a sweepstakes and a contest?
A sweepstakes involves chance while a contest involves judging entries against a set of criteria.
Do I need to make a purchase to enter a sweepstakes?
No, in the US, sweepstakes will always have a free method of entry where no purchase is necessary.
What is the no purchase necessary law for sweepstakes?
No Purchase Necessary Laws essentially prevent chance-based prize promotions from asking people to provide payment to enter unless a free entry alternative is readily available.
Were my mail-in entries received?
As per the Official Rules, requests for confirmation of quantity and/or receipt of mail-in entries will not be acknowledged. If your mail-in entry follows the instructions listed in the Official Rules and is received by the post-mark date, it will be accepted.
When does the sweepstakes drawing happen? How long after the drawing are winners contacted?
Please refer to the Official Rules for the promotion for the draw date. The drawing will be conducted on or about the date listed in the rules and potential winners are typically notified within a few days of the draw date.
How will I be contacted if I am chosen as a potential winner?
- If you are selected as a potential winner, you will be contacted via email and/or phone by a representative of Marden-Kane or the sponsor.
- Please refer to the Official Rules of the promotion to see additional details regarding winner notifications.
How do I find out who won? How will I find out if I’m a winner? Can you tell me who the winner is?
- Please refer to the Official Rules for information regarding how the winner(s) will be disclosed. Typically, the sponsor will either ask you to send an email or mail to a specific address for a list of winners. Alternatively, they may post the winner(s) on their website.
- The winners list will be shared once all winners have been confirmed.
What does "potential winner" mean?
Once a drawing is conducted, a potential winner is selected and is referred to as such until they submit all verification documents i.e., the Affidavit of Eligibility and IRS Form W-9 if needed. Once the documents are reviewed and their eligibility is confirmed, they are then named the official winner and are no longer considered “potential”.
I received a phone call from your office about a sweepstakes and/or prize. What should I do?
Please call our office or fill out our contact form and a representative will assist you. We will ask for your name, phone number and/or email, the name of the person who contacted you, and the name of the sweepstakes or prize you were contacted about.
How do I know that this is a legitimate promotion and not a scam? How do I know if the person reaching out to me is legitimate?
All legitimate Marden-Kane notification emails will be from either @mardenkane.com or @mkpromosource.com. Marden-Kane has been a promotion administrator for over 65 years. Please feel free to look through our website to see the work we’ve done for our clients. Our list of clients includes many Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, Google, and Intuit just to name a few. If you are unsure about a notification you received, please fill out our contact form and a representative will get back to you.
Do I have to pay anything to receive my prize? Do I have to provide my social security number to receive my prize?
- A winner never has to pay any money in order to receive their prize. If you are asked to pay any amount of money to receive a prize, it is a scam. Please visit our scammer page for more information.
- In some cases, completing an Affidavit of Eligibility is necessary to be confirmed as a winner. If the prize is valued at $600 or more, the IRS requires winners to report their winnings as miscellaneous income. Such potential winner will need to complete a W-9 Form (including their Social Security number [SSN] or Tax Identification number [TIN]), which Marden-Kane and/or the sponsor will use to issue a 1099 to the winner for tax reporting purposes. We understand that winners may be hesitant to send sensitive information via email. Please discuss any concerns with our Marden-Kane representatives to find out other ways you can provide any required documents/information.
- A potential winner may be required to provide a copy of their driver’s license if the prize requires winner to have a current and valid driver’s license to receive the prize and as stated/required in the official rules.
How is my information stored?
Any information you share with Marden-Kane is subject to our privacy policy and the privacy policy of the promotion Sponsor, which can be found in the Official Rules for the promotion.
How/when will I be receiving my prize if I am a winner?
Prize delivery time may vary depending on the Sponsor, type of prize, location of the winner, etc. A Marden-Kane representative will advise you on your prize fulfillment timeline.
How do I know how much tax I will pay on my prize if tax is to be paid?
We advise that you consult your tax advisor or related resource to determine the appropriate tax you may need to pay on your prize.
Potential Client Questions
How can I get in touch with someone if I want to run a promotion?
Please use our contact form on our website and a Marden-Kane representative will respond to your inquiry within 2-3 business days
What services do you offer?
Please visit our services page to learn more about the services we offer
What do I need to know before launching a promotion?
Please use our contact form and a Marden-Kane representative will respond to your inquiry within 2-3 business days. During our initial discussion, we will gather all of the necessary information to determine if you have everything you need to get started with us.
Are you lawyers? Do you have in-house legal counsel?
We are not lawyers, but we do have a partnership with a legal firm that specializes in promotion law.
How quickly can my promotion be set up?
- This will vary depending on the complexity of your promotion, however our typical timeline for launch is 4-8 weeks.
What types of prizes can I give away? What kind of prizes are off limits or problematic to include in my promotion?
- You can give away many different prizes such as physical merchandise, electronics, cars, and cash.
- We do not administer any promotions with prizes involving firearms, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, etc. Legal restrictions may apply in certain states.
What states require registration?
New York and Florida have bonding and registration requirements if the total prize structure is over $5,000 USD. Rhode Island requires registration if the total prize structure is over $500 USD and involves advertising in a physical retail location.
How much do your services cost?
Please use our contact form and a Marden-Kane representative will respond to your inquiry within 2-3 business days.
How do you make sure my sweepstakes is compliant?
Marden-Kane has been a promotion administrator with over 65 years’ experience in running compliant promotions. Our recommendations and review of your promotion materials are based on this experience and practical knowledge of Promotion Laws which may affect your promotion, as those laws are currently enforced. Marden-Kane does retain outside legal counsel to assist in legal matters when required.
Do I need to have the prize before I start the promotion?
- For larger prizes such as vehicles, we require that the sponsor have proof of ownership prior to launching the promotion. Awarding of a prize cannot be contingent on sales earned during the promotion.
Do I still have to fulfill the prize if I don’t make my money back or don’t get the amount of entries I’m looking for?
Yes, the prize that is listed in the Official Rules must be awarded. However, there are exceptions where the prize listed cannot be awarded, in which case the sponsor must award a prize of equal or greater value