Key Difference – Sweepstakes vs Contest
The words Sweepstakes and Contest are different from one another although they confuse most of us. If you have ever dreamt of winning millions of dollars without working hard, you must have heard about lotteries, contests, and sweepstakes. We often read about lucky individuals winning lots of money through these means. But do you know the differences between sweepstakes and contest? Lotteries are so common that people know they have to buy a ticket and wait for the result, to know they have won the jackpot or not. However, they remain confused between sweepstakes and contests. This article takes a closer look at sweepstakes and contests to come up with their differences.
What is Sweepstake (Competition)?
A sweepstake is a type of contest in which participants are not required to make any effort and send anything to showcase their skills. In a way, this is a promotional tool that is used by companies to attract people. Participants receive awards or prizes just by the virtue of being entrants in a sweepstake. It is all by chance and participants do not have to make any purchases or do something to increase their chances of winning. So unlike a lottery, you need not buy a ticket and wait for the outcome of a sweepstake. In countries other than US, sweepstakes are known as competition.
What is a Contest?
A contest is, as the name implies, a sort of competition that requires the winner to have better skills or knowledge than other contestants. There may be a contest in which participants are required to send a picture, a joke, an essay, or just about anything to prove that they are better than the others. There may be an entry fee in a contest, or it may be free for all. In a contest, participants have to put effort to win though they have control over the outcome of a contest in this sense. Popular sporting events like Wimbledon, Olympics, involve contests between participants. So you can notice that there is a clear difference between Sweepstakes and Contests. This difference can be summarized as follows.
What is the Difference Between Sweepstakes (Competition) and Contest?
Definitions of Sweepstakes and Contest:
Sweepstakes: Sweepstakes is a type of contest in which participants are not required to make any effort and send anything to showcase their skills.
Contest: A sort of competition that requires the winner to have better skills or knowledge than other contestants
Characteristics of Sweepstakes and Contest:
Effort:
Sweepstakes: Sweepstakes are all about chance.
Contest: You make efforts to win a contest.
Free:
Sweepstakes: Sweepstakes are always free.
Contest: Contest may or may not be free.
Selection:
Sweepstakes: Winners are selected randomly in sweepstakes.
Contest: Participants have to demonstrate their skills in contests.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol awards 5000 A Wk For Life” by Publishers Clearing House – Provided by Publishers Clearing House. [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Commons
2. “Eurovision Song Contest 2012, semi-final allocation draw (5)” by Vugarİbadov – Own work. [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Commons