Why do Microsoft Rewards Sweepstakes resemble the lottery so much?

There is a possibility of obtaining interesting prizes, they depend on chance and have monthly dates where the draws for these prizes are held.

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At first glance, the Microsoft Rewards Sweepstakes and the lottery for those who play on Xbox in this region seem very similar. There’s a chance to win interesting prizes, they depend on luck, and they have monthly dates where these prize draws take place.

However, legally speaking and in terms of how they work, they are not the same. For a sweepstake to be valid, it is essential that there is an option to participate for free, without any purchase obligation. That’s why the rules include the famous phrase “no purchase necessary,” along with an explanation of how to participate without spending points, by clicking on the link corresponding to your country.

And in the case of Latin America, this can coexist with catalogs or conditions for participating that change depending on the country; so it’s a good idea to clarify which aspects are comparable and which are not.

The Similar and the Different: Prize and Luck Yes, “Consideration” No

The error may arise from the fact that when Microsoft Rewards points are redeemed for participation, the user feels like they’re buying tickets, as if it were a lottery. However, in a sweepstake, the “consideration” element is excluded, and it must have a free entry. Additionally, the rules require informing the approximate value of the prizes (ARV), the probabilities, and the promotion calendar. For example, in the rules, it says that the promotion covers monthly periods from August 2024 to July 2025, with draws for specific dates, and that there are guidelines for participating without redeeming in different jurisdictions. On the other hand, in countries like Mexico or Canada, some promotions present skill questions, which reinforces the difference with a traditional lottery. That’s why some compare these draws to expressions like playing Mega Millions online, although here we’re talking about a brand promotion and not a state lottery.

The Microsoft Rewards program operates in much of Latin America, such as in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and several countries in Central America and the Caribbean. For its part, Microsoft support clarifies that the redemption catalog and offers depend on the region; not all countries see the same prizes or draws at once. Additionally, several international promotions of the Rewards Sweepstakes mention Mexico, listed among the US, Canada, and other countries.

The official page of Xbox Rewards explains how to accumulate points by playing, searching with Bing, and buying in the Microsoft Store, and how those points can be redeemed for gift cards, draws, or other benefits. Also, in the About Microsoft Rewards section, you can find the promotion period scheduled for 2025 and direct access to the rules.

How to Participate from PC and Console

To participate in a draw from your account, you first need to earn points by completing weekly missions, Game Pass challenges, daily searches, and objectives included within the app. Then, you’ll need to redeem some of them for participation in the active draw page in your jurisdiction.

In 2025, Microsoft improved access from PC: you can now consult missions, claim points, or advance in objectives directly in the Xbox app for Windows, something the community requested, as it’s more agile for redeeming and not depending on the browser. In July and August, the company corrected issues with weekly streaks and minutes of play not counted correctly. If you find that there’s a detail that doesn’t match in your account, what the medium recommends is verifying if there are updates and if it’s obtained from technical support.

The Rewards Sweepstakes usually offer hardware (Xbox Series X, accessories), Surface packages, gift cards, or prepaid balance. In June and July 2025, in Mexico, for example, promotions began to appear visible from the redemption page and console draws. Generally, the list of confirmed winners usually appears weeks later, and the prizes are not redeemable for money. Taxes, duties, or other local payment obligations are the responsibility of the winner; according to the rules. The probabilities depend on the total number of entries received by your own monthly draw group (from a determined group, by jurisdiction).

To dispel doubts about legitimacy, Microsoft publishes lists of winners for each promotion, including the list of entries, but accompanied by the corresponding description (for example, Surface Pro, Xbox Series X, or prepaid cards). Seeing these lists helps understand what kind of booty is being drawn and helps confirm that, indeed, the prize draws are of the type that are enriched based on rules and calendars.