Why Canadian Winners Answer a Skill-Testing Question

A skill testing question is the short math problem Canadian contest sponsors make you solve before they hand over a prize — and the reason it exists has nothing to do with proving you’re smart. It’s there to keep the contest legal. Under sections 206 and 207 of Canada’s Criminal Code, most private lotteries are prohibited, and a contest that awards prizes purely by chance can fall inside that prohibition. Adding a question that requires skill changes the legal character of the game.

So when a Canadian sponsor calls to say you’ve won and then asks you to calculate “18 × 4 + 26 − 12 ÷ 2,” they aren’t being difficult. They’re completing a required step in their own rules. You get one shot, usually without a calculator, usually within a stated time limit spelled out in the official rules.

Below is what the rule actually says, what happens step by step when you win, how the US system differs, and how to tell a real request apart from the scam messages that copy the format. If you enter contests open to both countries, this is worth understanding before the phone rings.

Why Canadian law requires a skill testing question

Canadian lottery offences under section 206 of the Criminal Code turn on chance. According to the Department of Justice’s published text of the Code, section 206 offences are hybrid — prosecutable by indictment with a maximum of two years’ imprisonment. Sponsors don’t want to be anywhere near that line, so they engineer it away.

A promotional contest generally becomes an illegal lottery when three elements combine: a prize, chance, and consideration (paying or buying something to enter). Remove one element and the problem usually disappears. Canadian sponsors typically remove two. They add a no-purchase entry method to kill consideration, and they add a skill testing question to dilute pure chance.

That’s the whole mechanism. The skill testing question converts a chance drawing into a contest of mixed chance and skill, which sits outside the specific offences that require chance alone. It is a legal formality with a real legal function.

What a skill testing question actually looks like

The standard format is a four-step arithmetic problem using two- or three-digit numbers, solved in the correct order of operations — what Canadian schools call BEDMAS. Something like “155 + 33 − 4 ÷ 2.” Multiplication and division come before addition and subtraction, which trips up more people than the arithmetic itself.

Sponsors commonly bar calculators and impose a time limit. Those conditions aren’t set by statute — they come from the contest’s own official rules, so they vary from contest to contest. Read the rules of any contest you enter. If a skill testing question is required, the rules will say so, along with how many attempts you get.

Some contests skip it entirely. A pure-skill contest — a photo competition judged on merit, for example — already has a skill element, so no separate skill testing question is needed. Those contests must still disclose their judging criteria.

Canada vs. the US: how the two systems differ

American sweepstakes law attacks the same three-element problem from a different angle. US sponsors typically kill consideration instead of chance, which is why nearly every US promotion carries the phrase “no purchase necessary.” That’s why you almost never see a skill testing question on a purely US sweepstakes.

US registration and bonding thresholds genuinely vary by state — New York and Florida are the ones most often cited by sponsors. Don’t rely on a number you read online; check the specific state’s attorney general or department of state page, or the contest’s own official rules.

What happens step by step after you win

1. The sponsor contacts you using the method described in the official rules — usually email or phone.
2. You’re told you’re a potential winner, not a confirmed one. That wording matters.
3. You’re asked the skill testing question, unaided, within the time limit the rules specify.
4. You answer correctly and sign a declaration and release form. Canadian sponsors commonly require this before releasing the prize.
5. The prize is awarded and, in Canada, the winner’s name is often published as the rules require.

If you get the answer wrong, the rules typically allow the sponsor to disqualify you and draw again. Some contests grant a second attempt; many don’t. Again — it’s in the rules, not in the statute.

What most people get wrong about the skill testing question

The biggest misconception is that the skill testing question exists to weed out unqualified winners. It doesn’t. It’s an intentionally easy question, designed to be answerable by an ordinary adult, because its purpose is legal classification rather than filtering.

The second misconception is that it’s a federal rule requiring a specific question. There’s no statute that prescribes “four steps, two digits, no calculator.” Those are conventions sponsors adopted to stay comfortably on the right side of the Criminal Code, then wrote into their own rules.

Third: many people assume Quebec still requires contest registration. Quebec repealed its publicity contest registration and fee regime — first for international contests in June 2021, then for all publicity contests launched on or after October 27, 2023, according to the legislative changes reported by Canadian advertising law firms. The old “void in Quebec” reflex is increasingly outdated, though sponsors still set their own eligibility terms.

Real requests vs. imposter scams that copy the format

Scammers have noticed the skill testing question and use it as a prop. A fake win notice that includes a math question feels more official — that’s exactly why they add it. The tell is never the question. The tell is what comes next.

According to the FTC, real sweepstakes are free, and there is no legitimate reason to pay fees, taxes, or “processing” charges to collect a prize. The FTC also warns that scammers invent official-sounding bodies like the “National Sweepstakes Bureau,” or impersonate real agencies including the FTC itself. Government agencies do not call demanding payment to release winnings.

So: a genuine sponsor may ask you a skill testing question and ask you to sign a release. A genuine sponsor does not ask for your bank account, your Social Security number, gift cards, or a wire transfer to unlock the prize. If money has to move toward the sponsor, stop. The FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a skill testing question required by Canadian law?

Not by name. The Criminal Code prohibits certain chance-based lotteries; the skill testing question is the standard method sponsors use to avoid those provisions. The specific requirement comes from each contest’s official rules.

Can I use a calculator?

Usually no. Most Canadian contest rules require the answer unaided and within a time limit. Check the official rules of the specific contest — the terms are set by the sponsor, not by statute.

What if I get the answer wrong?

The rules typically allow the sponsor to disqualify that entry and select an alternate winner. Some contests permit a second attempt. There’s no universal standard, so read the rules before you enter.

Do I owe tax on a Canadian prize if I’m American?

Possibly. The IRS treats prizes and awards as taxable income for US taxpayers, and payers generally issue Form 1099-MISC for amounts of $600 or more. Canada’s CRA generally treats lottery winnings as a non-taxable windfall for Canadians. Cross-border situations depend on your circumstances — ask a qualified tax professional or contact the IRS directly.

Know the Rules Where You Live

Sweepstakes and prize rules change from state to state — what a sponsor can offer, how prizes are handled, and what protections you have. Pick your state to see the exact rules that apply where you live.

See Sweepstakes Laws in All 50 States →

Sources & How to Verify

The facts on this page are drawn from official government and primary sources. Rules and figures change, so always confirm the current details with the official agency or the promotion’s own published rules.

• FTC Consumer Advice: consumer.ftc.gov — prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scam guidance
• IRS: irs.gov — how prizes and winnings are treated as income
• Social Security Administration: ssa.gov — what SSI recipients must report
• The promotion’s official rules: every legitimate sweepstakes publishes them — the rules page is always the final word

Content last reviewed August 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.

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• Sweepstakes Laws by State (50-State Guide)
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• Sweepstakes Resources
• Scam Checks
• Sweepstakes Tax Calculator
• All Active Sweepstakes

Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Win Big Daily is an independent educational resource. Prize rules, tax treatment, and benefit-program requirements vary by state and program and change over time, so always verify the current details with the official agency, the promotion’s published rules, or a qualified professional before acting. If a topic involves government benefits, contact the program office about your specific situation.