How to Pick a Giveaway Winner Fairly
To pick a giveaway winner fairly, put every valid entry into one list, remove duplicates, and draw on screen with a random picker that everyone can watch – then pick one or two backup winners in case the first winner does not reply. Spin The Wheels does this for free, in your browser, with no login.
1. Write the Rules First
- When entries close (date and time, with time zone – for example 8 pm IST or 8 pm PHT).
- How to enter: comment, follow, tag a friend, fill a form.
- One entry per person, or extra entries for extra actions.
- How long the winner has to reply before a backup is chosen.
- Check the promotion rules of the platform you use (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok) and any local rules that apply to contests.
2. Collect the Entries in One List
Copy the usernames from the comments, messages or form into a list, one per line. If your entries are in Google Sheets or Excel, select the column and paste it straight into the wheel – each row becomes one entry, and a number in the next column becomes that entry's weight.
3. Remove Duplicates and Invalid Entries
Delete people who broke the rules or entered after the deadline. A name that appears twice on the wheel gets two shares of it, so remove repeats before you spin – the random name picker does this for you when Remove duplicate names is ticked. If your rules give extra entries, give that person a weight instead – for example Priya | 3.
4. Draw on Screen
- Small giveaway (up to a few hundred names): paste the list into the spin the wheel page and spin while you record your screen or go live. Use the OBS overlay to show the wheel on stream.
- Big giveaway or several prizes: use the random name picker, set the number of winners and backup winners, and draw them all at once.
- Numbered tickets: use the raffle generator or the random number generator.
5. Pick Backup Winners
Draw one or two backups at the same time and announce them in order. If the winner does not reply in the time you set, contact the first backup.
6. Announce and Keep Proof
Post the winner's username, a short clip of the spin, and the date of the draw. Keep the recording until the prize is delivered. A share link lets anyone open the same wheel.
Why a Random Wheel Is Fair
Every entry has the same chance unless you set weights. The result is picked with your browser's cryptographically secure random generator before the animation starts, so the timing of your click cannot change it. You can test the generator yourself on our randomness audit page.
