Sweepstakes, Contests, and Giveaway Laws in Russia

Prize promotions in Russia: how to organize them and the applicable legislation

In Russia, prize promotions and promotional lotteries are subject to strict legal regulations.

Companies wishing to organize a prize promotion in Russia must comply with several laws, including the Advertising Law, the Lottery Law, and the Personal Data Protection Law.

Although these regulations are relatively recent, they are widely regarded by local legal experts as complex and highly bureaucratic. The lack of established case law and official guidance makes it essential to have each promotional campaign carefully reviewed by specialists to ensure full compliance with the applicable legislation and avoid potential penalties.

Legal framework for prize promotions in Russia

The Russian legal framework governing promotional campaigns requires careful assessment of the promotional mechanics before launching any initiative.

Depending on how a campaign is structured, it may fall under different legal provisions, each with its own compliance requirements. For this reason, obtaining local legal advice is strongly recommended before launching a promotional contest in Russia.

Restrictions on promotional lotteries

One of the most significant restrictions concerns promotional lotteries.

Following amendments to the Russian Lottery Law introduced in 2010, the use of technical, electronic, or mechanical devices in promotional lotteries has been prohibited since 10 August 2010.

In practice, this means that any lottery requiring participants to use a telephone, mobile phone, the internet, or any other technical device to enter is considered illegal.

To comply with the legislation, organizers often require participants to mail a physical entry card to the promoter’s postal address, after which the winning entries are selected through a manual draw conducted in the presence of a notary.

👉 Did you know? Since 10 August 2010, Russian law has prohibited the use of electronic or technical devices to participate in promotional lotteries, making online or mobile-entry lotteries generally unlawful.

Companies interested in promoting services or products in Russia can take advantage of our assistance with:

• Prize promotions
• Gift With Purchase Promotions
• Trade incentives
• Loyalty programs

Some of our services for contests and promotions in Russia:

• A preliminary feasibility study
• Consultancy on the promotional mechanics in compliance with the specific regulations of the country
• Dealing with the paperwork in compliance with the regulations
• Checking the communication material according to the provisions of the law
• Tax consultancy concerning the prize events
• Consultancy on Privacy

🌍 In Promosfera, above all, we organise prize contests and international giveaways in several countries. For example in the UK, and in over 85 countries around the world.
We provide legal assistance, know-how and terms and conditions which, markedly, comply with local laws and regulations.