What are Common Contest Rules in Canada & How To Follow Them

What are the standard rules for Contests and Giveaways in Canada?

Why the Contest Rules?

Picture this: You’re eyeing that grand prize, ready to hit submit on your entry form, and there it is – the entry checkbox. Before you check it like a pro, consider these tips to pass to the contest rules.

As someone who’s always diving into contests every single day, I confess I’ve been guilty of breezing past that little checkbox without giving it much thought. And let’s be real, you’ve probably been doing the same thing, right?

So, what’s the deal with those rules, and what should they include to stay on the right side of government regulations?

These rules aren’t just legal jargon, and I am doing a little dive into the Government of Canada’s Competition Act which governs the Promotional Contests you find on our Contestscoop.com website. Contests must adhere to Canadian laws, including any provincial regulations.

Well, let’s dive into the laws of contest rules in this post and help you understand how these rules may protect you.

What are the Common Rules for Contests you can enter in Canada?

As you explore the contests and giveaways on Contestscoop.com, we’ve sifted through the rules for you, ensuring we include the crucial ones for your convenience. Typically, Canadian Companies will include the following rules when entering a contest: prizes, contest period, eligibility, entry method, winner notification, disqualification, and others that may apply.

Additionally, we provide a link to the rules page, allowing you to read them for yourself. Now, I’ll break down some of them for you.

Eligibility – Who can enter?

The majority of our contests shared express that they are open to Canadian residents, who are the age of majority in their province or territory.

At times, particularly in TikTok giveaways, we come across additional age restrictions. For instance, teenagers aged 13 or 16 years and older may be eligible to enter.

A significant number of contests also exclude residents from Quebec. You can learn more about why Quebec residents are not eligible to enter some contests here. Don’t fret if you’re from Quebec, though. I’ve included a fantastic page just for you, featuring a list of incredible giveaways exclusive to Quebec residents.

Prizes – What exactly can you win?

Prizes, that’s what it’s all about for us, right? Naturally, you want to know exactly what’s up for grabs. That’s why the prizes offered should be clearly stated, providing you with a clear understanding of what you win. If there’s more than one prize or any Early Bird giveaways, the rules must also outline these details.

Contest Period: When Does a Contest or Giveaway Start and End?

It’s incredibly frustrating to find an exciting giveaway only to discover it has expired. Contests need a clearly defined time frame for entry. At Contestscoop, we take care to share the start and end dates, along with any draw dates if mentioned in the rules. To steer clear of disappointment, ensure you submit your entry within this designated period.

Entry Methods: How do I participate?

When it comes to entering sweepstakes and giveaways, there are numerous ways to participate, making the method of entry a crucial rule to understand. Detailed guidelines should clarify how to enter, be it online through form submission, sending an email, using text, or any other specified method. Many, myself included, enjoy engaging in the entertaining games offered by some contests, such as the digital races, scratch-and-win, or puzzles presented by Circle K. Regardless of the entry method, it’s imperative to follow the provided instructions carefully.

No Purchase Necessary: How You Can Enter For Free

Here on Contestscoop, I frequently highlight contests tied to the purchase of specific products, a fantastic way to foster brand loyalty. Popular Buy to win contests here come from Brands like Dempsters, Monster Energy Drinks and others.

However, it’s important to note that you can still participate in these contests without making a purchase. You’re not obligated to buy anything to enter. Contests typically offer a free entry method, often through mail submissions.

You can usually locate the free entry methods at the end of the contest rules, and we make a point to provide the mailing address along with a link for easy reference to these complimentary ways of participating.

Odds of Winning: What Are the chances you win a prize?

The concept of odds of winning is particularly relevant in contests linked to the sale of products or services. Take, for instance, Kellogg’s Canada, which frequently runs promotions allowing customers to enter a draw by purchasing cereal or snack products, each featuring a unique PIN code. Since the company knows the total number of PIN codes in circulation, it must disclose the odds of winning based on the total entries received. This transparency is provided to help consumers understand their chances of winning.

Skill and Random Chance Contests

Have you seen our categories dedicated to recipe and photo contests? In specific promotions, a skill such as photography, essay writing, or cooking a meal is required. Entries are typically judged based on criteria like creativity and uniqueness, as the rules specify. Skill contests usually involve a panel of judges who will select and announce a winner. Conversely, winners are chosen through a random draw for most other contests. Regardless, the rules should explicitly state whether a random draw or a specific skill is required.

Notification of Winners: How to Find Out If You Won?

We frequently receive comments from subscribers asking about the winners of specific contests and how to find information about winner announcements. We try to include these details, including the dates and the notification process if available. There’s nothing more disheartening than winning a prize only to realize you might have missed claiming it by not being aware of the rules.

Companies employ various methods to contact winners, such as phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, or Instagram DMs. Whatever the method, the process for notifying winners and claiming prizes should be clearly explained. It’s your responsibility to check how and when winners will be contacted to ensure you don’t miss out on claiming your well-deserved prize.

Winner Publications – Find and See Winner’s Names

Winning a prize is undoubtedly thrilling, but what if, for any reason, you prefer not to have your name publicly disclosed? In that case, my advice would be to avoid entering contests that mandate the public announcement of winners’ names. Particularly in skill contests, the names and potentially photographs of winners may be shared on social media, the company’s website, or in written publications. It’s crucial to ensure you are comfortable with this level of public exposure before participating.

Disqualification and Elimination from Participation

Success in your entry is assured when you adhere to all the rules stipulated in the contest.

The rules outline various actions that may lead to disqualification, including issues like your location or the use of multiple email addresses. On Contestscoop, we categorize contests as daily or single entries, and it’s important to note that exceeding the entry limit specified may result in the disqualification of all your entries by the company. To maintain fairness, it’s essential not to cheat and strictly follow the rules to avoid disqualification.

Contact Information: For More Info

Towards the end of the rules section, you’ll usually find the sponsor’s contact information. Reach out to them for any questions, concerns, or technical difficulties during entry or if you need additional information.

Always make it a point to thoroughly read the official rules of any contest you plan to enter. Don’t hesitate to contact the organizers for clarification if there’s any uncertainty.