Why Some Sweepstakes Exclude New York, Florida, or Rhode Island

Sweepstakes registration states are the reason you keep seeing “void in New York, Florida, and Rhode Island” at the bottom of contest rules — and no, it is not because those states banned sweepstakes. All three have laws requiring a sponsor to file paperwork with a state agency (and in two cases post a bond) before a promotion with prizes above a set dollar amount can legally run there. When a sponsor does not want the cost or the deadline, it excludes the state instead.

The dollar lines are specific. Under New York General Business Law § 369-e, a promotion must be registered with the New York Department of State when the total announced prize value exceeds $5,000. Florida Statute § 849.094 uses the same $5,000 figure and routes filings to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Rhode Island’s threshold is far lower — more than $500 — but under Rhode Island General Laws § 11-50-1 it applies only to promotions run by a retail establishment.

So the exclusion tells you something about the sponsor’s paperwork budget, not about your luck or your state’s stance on prizes. Below is how the three sweepstakes registration states actually work, what happens when you are excluded, and the parts people most often get backwards.

What the sweepstakes registration states actually require

Registration is an advance filing. The sponsor tells the state what the promotion is, how many prizes exist, what they are worth, the odds, the entry period, and the official rules. In New York and Florida, the sponsor also has to back the prizes financially — with a surety bond or a trust account — so there is money available if the prizes are never delivered.

New York’s filing is due at least 30 days before the promotion starts, and the fee is $100. Florida’s filing is due at least 7 days before the promotion starts, with a $100 fee, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Missing either deadline is not something a sponsor can fix on launch day.

There is also a back end. New York requires a certification of winners — names, addresses, prize descriptions, and delivery dates for every prize worth more than $25 — filed within 90 days after the promotion ends. Florida requires the winners list to be submitted no later than 60 days after winners are finally determined.

Why New York and Florida usually get excluded together

Because the trigger is identical. Both states kick in above $5,000 in total announced prize value — total, across the whole promotion, not per prize. A giveaway with 200 prizes worth $50 each crosses the line just as surely as one $6,000 grand prize.

The bond is what stings. New York’s statute allows a bond with sufficient sureties in an amount equal to the total value of all prizes offered, or a trust account instead. Florida allows a surety bond or a statement of trust, and its rules provide an exemption for operators that have run game promotions in the state for at least five consecutive years without a civil, criminal, or administrative action for violating § 849.094.

Put those together and you can see the math a small sponsor is doing. A $6,000 prize pool can mean two filings, two fees, a bond covering the full prize value, and two separate winners-list deadlines. Excluding two states costs nothing.

Why Rhode Island is the odd one out

Rhode Island’s threshold is more than $500 in total announced prize value — dramatically lower than the other two sweepstakes registration states. But § 11-50-1 is written around a retail establishment offering prizes by chance to promote its retail business, and the filing goes to the Rhode Island Secretary of State. There is no bonding requirement attached.

That narrower scope is exactly why Rhode Island shows up inconsistently. A retail-driven promotion may need to file at a very low prize value, while other promotions may not be covered at all. Rather than analyze which side of the line a given giveaway falls on, many sponsors just add Rhode Island to the exclusion list and move on.

Comparing the three sweepstakes registration states

These are statutory figures and agencies can change fees or forms. Requirements also vary by promotion type — and other jurisdictions, including U.S. territories, are sometimes excluded for unrelated reasons. Always read the specific promotion’s official rules and check the state agency page directly rather than relying on a summary.

What to do when your state is excluded

Your options are narrow and honest ones are short:

• Read the eligibility paragraph first. It is usually the second or third clause in the official rules and names every excluded state.
• Look for smaller prize pools. Promotions under $5,000 total often include New York and Florida because no filing is triggered.
• Check large national sponsors. Companies that run promotions constantly typically register and include all 50 states.
• Do not enter with someone else’s address. An entry that violates the rules is void, and sponsors verify winners before paying.

What most people get wrong about sweepstakes registration states

The biggest misread is treating the exclusion as a legality problem on your end. Entering is not illegal for you; the filing obligation belongs to the sponsor. The rules simply say you are not an eligible entrant.

Second, people assume the three states are interchangeable. They are not — Rhode Island’s trigger is ten times lower and its scope is much narrower, and only New York and Florida involve bonds.

Third, “registered” is not the same as “verified as good.” Registration means paperwork was filed and prizes are backed; it is not a quality rating. And a real sweepstakes never asks you to pay. The FTC is direct about this: anyone who tells you to pay to get your prize — for taxes, shipping, or processing fees — is a scammer, and sweepstakes mailings must say you do not have to pay to participate.

Scammers also imitate the names of well-known legitimate sweepstakes companies; the imposter is not the company.

Taxes and benefits still work the same way

Whether a state required registration has nothing to do with what happens after you win. Under IRS rules, prizes and awards are taxable income, and a payer generally issues Form 1099-MISC with the amount in box 3 when a payment is $600 or more in a year. The fair market value of merchandise counts, not just cash. Prizes and awards are reported on line 8i of Schedule 1 (Form 1040).

If you receive SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8, or another needs-based program, reporting requirements generally apply to prize income, and how a win is treated depends on the specific program and your situation. No article can tell you the outcome. Contact the agency administering your benefits — SSA, your state SNAP or Medicaid office, or your housing authority — and ask about your own case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for me to enter a sweepstakes that excludes my state?

No. The registration duty sits with the sponsor, not you. But if the rules exclude your state, your entry is void and you cannot be awarded a prize, so there is no benefit to entering.

Why do some giveaways include all 50 states?

Either the total prize value falls below the thresholds in the sweepstakes registration states, or the sponsor completed the filings and posted the required bond or trust.

Are New York, Florida, and Rhode Island the only sweepstakes registration states?

They are the ones most commonly cited for prize-value registration. Other requirements vary by state and by promotion type, and some sponsors also exclude U.S. territories. Check the official rules and the relevant state agency.

Do the thresholds ever change?

Statutes and agency fees can be amended. The $5,000 figures come from New York GBL § 369-e and Florida Statute § 849.094, and the $500 figure from Rhode Island GL § 11-50-1 — verify current text on the state’s own site before relying on it.

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.

Related Guides

• Sweepstakes Laws by State (50-State Guide)
• More in This Category
• 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.