Why so many sweepstakes exclude Florida, New York and Rhode Island
Updated November 6, 2026
Scroll through enough official rules and you'll see it constantly: “Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., excluding Florida, New York and Rhode Island.” If you live in one of those states, it can feel like you're left out of half the good sweepstakes. You're not imagining it, and it isn't about you. It's paperwork.
Florida and New York: registration and a bond for prizes over $5,000
Both states require a sponsor to register a sweepstakes (Florida calls it a “game promotion”) and post a surety bond covering the prize value when the total prizes are worth more than $5,000:
- Florida: file with the state at least 7 days before the promotion starts, pay a filing fee, bond the prizes, and file a list of winners afterward.
- New York: register at least 30 days before the start, bond the prizes, and file a winners list afterward.
For a big national brand that's routine. For a smaller sponsor, or a promotion put together on a short timeline, the deadlines, fees and bond are a hassle. The simplest way to avoid them is to exclude residents of those states, which is why you see the exclusion so often on prizes above $5,000.
Rhode Island: a filing rule for retail promotions
Rhode Island's law is narrower. It requires a filing with the Secretary of State for chance promotions run in connection with retail stores when the prizes are worth more than $500. Plenty of online sweepstakes aren't covered by it, but many sponsors exclude Rhode Island anyway as a blanket precaution. (A bill to repeal the law has been introduced in the state legislature; check current law before relying on either version.)
What it means for you
- Smaller prizes are more often open to everyone. A $500 gift card sweepstakes is less likely to exclude Florida or New York than a $25,000 truck giveaway.
- Big national brands often include all states, because they register and bond as a matter of course.
- Don't enter if you're excluded. Entering from an excluded state just gets you disqualified if you win, and it can get you banned from that sponsor's future promotions.
Filter by your state
On the calendar, open Filter → My eligibility and choose your state. Anything that excludes it disappears, and the daily entry count only counts sweepstakes you can actually enter. Your choice is saved in your browser.
This is general information, not legal advice.