YouTube Giveaway Rules (2026): What YouTube's Contest Policies Require
The short answer: YouTube allows giveaways on your channel, but under its contest policies you're "solely responsible" for them, entry "must be free of charge," they "cannot be run through ad units," and your official rules must say YouTube isn't a sponsor, release YouTube from liability, link to the Community Guidelines and include a privacy notice. Separately, YouTube's spam policy lists "offering rewards in exchange for likes, views, or subscribers" as artificial engagement. Here's each rule in YouTube's own words, then a template you can copy.
This is a practical summary, not legal advice. YouTube says the same about its own page: "We're not your attorneys and the info presented here is not legal advice." Prize promotion laws vary by country and state, so check yours, especially for valuable prizes.
YouTube's contest policies, rule by rule
From YouTube's contest policies:
| Rule | YouTube's wording | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| You're responsible | "You're solely responsible for your contest," and it must comply with "all relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including U.S. sanctions." | YouTube doesn't run or check your giveaway. You're the sponsor. |
| Free to enter | Contests "must be free of charge to enter." | No entry fees, purchases or paid memberships as a condition of entry. |
| No ads | Contests "cannot be run through ad units." | Don't run the giveaway inside a YouTube ad. |
| Entrants keep their entries | You "cannot ask the viewer to give all rights for, or transfer the ownership of, their entry." | Don't claim ownership of people's comments or submissions. |
| No fake metrics | "You and any third-party may not manipulate metrics on the YouTube service," including views, likes, dislikes and subscribers. | No bought or artificially inflated views, likes or subscribers. |
| No YouTube endorsement | "You cannot associate or affiliate YouTube with your contest without YouTube's prior written consent." | Don't imply YouTube runs, sponsors or approves your giveaway. |
What your official rules must include
- "links to the YouTube Community Guidelines" and a statement that "entries that don't comply will be disqualified"
- "all disclosures required by all applicable federal, state and local laws"
- a clear statement "that YouTube is not a sponsor of your contest," plus a requirement that entrants "release YouTube from any liability"
- "a legally compliant privacy notice" explaining how you'll use entrants' personal data
The engagement rule that trips creators up
YouTube's spam policy says "It's okay to ask viewers to like, comment, or subscribe," but it prohibits "repetitive or templated content aimed at artificially inflating engagement through bots, coercion, or offering rewards in exchange for likes, views, or subscribers." Its fake engagement policy adds that "content that solely exists to incentivize viewers for engagement (views, likes, comments, etc) is prohibited." Repeat violations lead to strikes, and three strikes within 90 days can end a channel.
So keep the giveaway part of real content (a review, a milestone thank-you, a launch) rather than a video that exists only to farm engagement. Make a comment the way to enter, and keep subscribing and liking optional. "Subscribe and like to win" puts a prize on exactly the metrics YouTube names. More on subscribe and like requirements.
What to put in your rules
- Who's running it: your name or business, and a contact email.
- Who can enter: age and location, and "void where prohibited".
- When: start and end date and time, with the time zone.
- How to enter: for example "comment with the word GIVEAWAY", one entry per person, whether replies count, and that entry is free.
- How the winner is picked: a random draw from eligible entries, when, and with what tool.
- The prize: what it is, its approximate value, and who provides it.
- How winners are contacted: where you'll announce, how long they have to reply, and that you'll never ask for payment.
- YouTube's required lines: not a sponsor, a release of liability, a Community Guidelines link and a privacy notice.
A YouTube giveaway rules template
Copy this into a page you link to (or your description), and replace everything in [brackets].
OFFICIAL RULES: [Giveaway name]
1. Sponsor. This giveaway is run by [your name or business] ([contact email]). It is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, YouTube. By entering, you release YouTube from any liability related to this giveaway.
2. Who can enter. Open to [residents of …] aged [18] or older. Void where prohibited.
3. Dates. Starts [date, time, time zone] and ends [date, time, time zone]. Comments posted after the end don't count.
4. How to enter. Comment on [video link] with [the word … / your answer to …]. One entry per person; extra comments don't add chances, and replies to other comments don't count. Entry is free. You don't need to buy anything, subscribe or like the video to enter or win.
5. Disqualification. Entries that break the YouTube Community Guidelines (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9288567) or these rules will be disqualified.
6. Winner selection. [Number] winner(s) will be drawn at random from all eligible entries on [date] using The Pick Is Right, with backup winners drawn at the same time.
7. Prize. [Description], approximate value [amount]. No cash alternative. [Provided by [brand].]
8. Contacting the winner. We'll announce the winner by replying to their comment from [@yourhandle] and pinning a comment. The winner must reply within [72 hours] or a backup winner will be chosen. We will never ask you to pay a fee or to message another account.
9. Privacy. We collect the winner's [name, email and shipping address] only to deliver the prize, and delete them [within 30 days] after delivery. [Link to your privacy policy.]
10. Your entry. You keep ownership of your comment. Entering doesn't give us any rights to it.
Keep the version in your video or pinned comment short (how to enter, the deadline, "not sponsored by YouTube") and link to the full rules.
Sponsored prizes: tell YouTube
If a brand gave you the prize or paid you to run the giveaway, that's a commercial relationship. YouTube's paid promotion rules say: "If you feature branded content, sponsorships, endorsements, or other commercial relationships in your videos, you have to let YouTube know by selecting the paid promotion button in your video details." Name the sponsor in the video and in your rules too.
Local law in one paragraph
In most places, a promotion that combines a prize, chance and a required payment is a lottery, which private creators generally can't run. That's why giveaways are free to enter. Skill contests (best photo, best answer) follow different rules, and some places add their own requirements: in the U.S., for example, New York and Florida require chance-based promotions to be registered and bonded when the prizes are worth more than $5,000 in total. If your prize is valuable, or you're giving away across countries, get advice for your situation.
Then pick the winner fairly
Once the giveaway closes, approve any comments held for review, paste the video link into the YouTube comment picker, and set the same rules you published. Our step-by-step guide covers the rest: how to pick a winner for a YouTube giveaway.
More YouTube giveaway guides
Frequently asked questions
Are giveaways allowed on YouTube?
Yes. YouTube allows contests and giveaways on your channel if you follow its contest policies and the law: free entry, official rules with a YouTube release and a privacy notice, a link to the Community Guidelines, and nothing run through ads.
Can I require people to subscribe to enter my YouTube giveaway?
Asking is fine: YouTube says it's okay to ask viewers to like, comment or subscribe. But its spam policy lists offering rewards in exchange for likes, views or subscribers as artificial engagement, and no tool can verify subscriptions anyway. Make a comment the entry and keep subscribing optional.
Do I need official rules for a small giveaway?
YouTube's contest policies require your rules to include the YouTube release, a privacy notice and a link to the Community Guidelines, whatever the prize. A short version in the video or a pinned comment, linking to the full rules, works well.
Can I promote a giveaway with YouTube ads?
You can't run the contest through an ad: YouTube's contest policies say contests cannot be run through ad units.
Do I have to disclose a sponsored giveaway on YouTube?
If a brand provided the prize or paid you, that's a commercial relationship. YouTube asks you to select the paid promotion option in your video details, and you should name the sponsor in your rules.
What minimum age should a YouTube giveaway have?
Many creators require entrants to be 18 or older, because minors usually need a parent's permission to share an address or accept a prize. State the age in your rules and follow your local law.