Alternate method of entry (AMOE): what it is and how to use it
Last reviewed September 2026 · researched from primary sources. Not legal or tax advice — see our Disclaimer.
An alternate method of entry is the free way into a sweepstakes that also has a paid or purchase-linked route. It exists because U.S. law does not let a business require payment for a chance at a prize — so there must always be a no-cost path with the same odds of winning.
Why it has to be there
A prize plus random selection plus a required payment is an illegal lottery. Removing the payment requirement is what makes it a legal sweepstakes, and the AMOE is that removal in practice. See “no purchase necessary” laws.
What an AMOE usually looks like
- Mail-in. Hand-print your name, address, date of birth and the sweepstakes name on a card or paper of a stated size, and mail it in a stamped envelope. One card, one entry.
- Online form. A web page where you submit your details without buying anything.
- Free in-app or in-store action. A daily check-in, a free game play, or a request at a customer-service desk.
The rules that make it fair
By law and FTC guidance the free entry must have equal dignity with the paid one: the same chance of winning and roughly equal prominence in the advertising. A sponsor cannot give mail-in entries worse odds or hide the option in fine print.
How to use a mail-in AMOE properly
- Read the official rules for the exact format — card size, what information to include, whether to spell out a phrase, and the mailing address.
- Use a separate envelope and adequate postage for each entry if multiple entries are allowed.
- Mail early enough to arrive within the entry period — postmark and receipt deadlines can differ.
- Keep a note of what you sent and when.
Sweepstakes casinos
Sweepstakes casinos use the same principle: because Sweeps Coins cannot be sold, every operator offers a free way to request them, usually a mail-in postcard. The address and wording are in the operator’s sweepstakes rules. See Sweeps Coins vs. Gold Coins.
Tool: see how prizes, total entries and your entry count combine with the sweepstakes odds calculator.
Key facts
- AMOE the free entry route, required by law
- Odds vs. paid entry must be equal
- Most common form mail-in card
- Format follow the official rules exactly
- Sweeps casinos free Sweeps Coins by mail-in request
Sources: U.S. state promotion law and Federal Trade Commission guidance on prize promotions; sweepstakes-casino operator terms.