To stay out of legal trouble, World Cup sweepstakes need to follow five important rules.
With the first game just a week away, as Mexico faces South Africa at Estadio Banorte, World Cup excitement is really starting to build. That means many offices worldwide are running their World Cup sweepstakes – a fun tradition that makes watching the tournament even more exciting.
This year is special because, for the first time ever, 48 teams are competing, which means more chances to include extra teams in your sweepstakes.
Here’s a quick rundown: everyone chips in a small amount, and whoever picks the winning team wins the pot. Sometimes second and third place get a prize too.
The idea is fun and friendly—unless you happen to get both Curacao and Jordan! But, there are some important rules to follow to keep things fair and legal.
According to Personnel Today, sweepstakes are actually controlled by the Gambling Act 2005, and some issues can pop up, especially now that hybrid working (mixing time at home and in the office) is common after COVID-19.
The law says sweepstakes need a license because they’re like lotteries. But there are exceptions if certain rules are met.
First, the sweepstake must happen in just one location—not across different offices like London and Dublin. Each workplace must have its own separate sweepstake, even if it’s run online through Slack or Teams. Hybrid work can make this tricky, so the approach needs extra care.
Also, the person organizing shouldn’t make any money, and everyone must pay the same amount to join. Payments must be made upfront, and teams are assigned randomly through a draw, either in person or online.
There can be no roll-over of prizes, which isn’t a problem with the World Cup since the final is set for July 19 in New Jersey.
If employees run the sweepstake themselves, instead of the company, it’s usually safer and lowers the chance of legal worries.
Writer Jennifer Leeder points out, “As hybrid working continues, employers don’t need to avoid sweepstakes — they just need to set them up in ways that follow the law and fit today’s work style.”