Eurovision sweepstake rules: keep it simple and fair
A good sweepstake depends on clear rules set before the draw. Set them once, agree on them, and do not change them on the night.
Core rules — these should not change
One country per participant
Unless there are more participants than countries, in which case some people get two.
Countries assigned randomly
No choosing, no trading before the draw. The randomness is the point.
No swaps after the draw
Once the draw runs, assignments are final. Makes it fairer and removes all negotiation.
Highest score wins
Based on the real Eurovision Grand Final scoreboard — jury plus public televote.
Optional rule variations
You can extend the format if your group wants more engagement — but only add these if everyone agrees upfront.
Runner-up prizes
2nd and 3rd place get a share of the pot. Works well for larger groups (10+ participants).
Bonus for public vote winner
The country that scores highest in the public televote gives their participant a small bonus. Adds a secondary competition.
Bonus for jury vote winner
Same idea — separate bonus for the jury favourite. Encourages watching both scoring rounds carefully.
Semi-final bonus
A small points bonus for countries that qualify from the semi-finals. playdrawr includes this by default.
What to avoid
Tiebreakers
In rare cases where two participants finish with identical scores, decide your tiebreaker before the draw. Options:
Keep it predefined. The worst outcome is a dispute over a rule that was not agreed in advance.
Entry fee rules
The most important rule of any sweepstake: nobody draws a country until they have paid.
Once someone has a country, they have no incentive to hand over the money. Collect first, draw second.
Start your sweepstake with built-in rules
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