Can you really enter a big gaming giveaway without buying anything? Yes, and the Official Rules say so in capital letters. But So here is a quick round of myth versus fact, with every fact taken from the rules.
The giveaway is LvlUp's Retro prize. Seven myths, seven answers, no pop quiz at the end.
Round oneEntering
Myth 1: you have to buy something to enter.
Fact: The first line of the Official Rules says no purchase or payment of money is necessary to enter or win. A free entry by mail is described in the rules. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning either.
Myth 2: a mail-in card is worth one entry.
Fact: Each valid mail-in entry is worth ten sweepstakes entries. The card is hand-printed with your contact details and date of birth, then mailed in a #10 envelope with postage. The mail address and the full list of details are in the rules.
Myth 3: if you mail it on the last day, you are safe.
Fact: The date has two halves. Your entry must be postmarked by November 19, 2026, and received by November 23, 2026. Meet both.
Round twoThe prize
Myth 4: the winner has to take the hardware.
Fact: Hardware or cash is the pick of the winner. The cash side is a $10,000 award, and the hardware side tops out at a $16,000 approximate retail value.
Myth 5: everything in the photos comes with it.
Fact: Photos are styled. The Official Rules list five prize items, running from the custom PC to the console and games bundle. Desks, shelves, posters and neon lights are not on that list.
Seven myths · One mail-in card
Get the facts, then get in the drawing
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the US and Canada, 18+ or the age of majority. Void where prohibited. Ends 11/19/2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Official Rules
Round threeWho, when and how
Myth 6: anybody, anywhere, can enter.
Fact: Only legal residents of the US or Canada can enter, and only adults. Void where prohibited. People tied to the Sponsor or the Administrator, and their relatives and household members, are out.
Myth 7: the prize is yours the moment you are picked.
Fact: First comes the random drawing, scheduled for about November 24, 2026. The potential winner must then sign and return an affidavit or declaration, and may be asked for a tax form, before claiming. A winner is responsible for taxes on the prize, and its value is taxable as income. Canadian winners must answer a skill-testing question.
Bonus roundOne more thing people ask
Who is behind this? The sweepstakes is sponsored by Lvlup.us LLC and administered by American Sweepstakes & Promotion Co., Inc. The Official Rules name both. Read them yourself before you enter.
The fine print, in plain EnglishHow entering works
Members are entered automatically. An active LvlUp membership includes automatic entry into every LvlUp giveaway, alongside the other member benefits.
Anyone can enter for free. Mail a hand-printed 3" x 5" card as described in the Official Rules. Each mail-in entry counts as 10 entries. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by November 19, 2026 and received by November 23, 2026.
Paying never improves your odds. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning, and odds depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Mythbusted
Enter on the facts
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the US and Canada, 18+ or the age of majority. Void where prohibited. Ends 11/19/2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Official Rules
What is LvlUp?
LvlUp is a membership club for gamers. Members get:
- Cash back when you shop at more than 6,600 stores
- Digital wallpapers, included with membership
- Access to the LvlUp Arcade
- Discounts on LvlUp merch for Champion members and above
- Automatic entry into every LvlUp giveaway while your membership is active
Membership starts at $5 per month, renews monthly until you cancel, and can be canceled anytime from your account. Past winners are listed on our winners page.
You never have to buy anything to enter. There's a free way to enter by mail, described in the Official Rules, and a purchase will not improve your chances of winning.
The short version
- No purchase is necessary to enter or win, and a purchase will not improve your odds
- A mail-in entry is free to send and worth 10 entries
- Mail-ins are postmarked by Nov 19 and received by Nov 23
- Winner picks hardware or a $10,000 cash award
- Five prize items; the maximum ARV is $16,000
- Drawing: on or about Nov 24
Common questions
Does the Official Rules page mention any ways to enter besides mail?
The Official Rules describe other ways to enter. Read them. LvlUp members are entered automatically as a membership benefit. No purchase is necessary, and a purchase will not improve your chances of winning.
Do I need to send more than one card?
The rules say each envelope must be mailed individually and bulk shipments are not accepted. They do not set a limit on mail-in cards, so read the section on mail entry in the Official Rules.
Can a service enter for me?
No. Entries made by any other individual or entity, and entry services, are declared invalid. Mail-in cards must be hand-printed by the entrant.
Does the prize include the stuff in the background?
No. Only the items listed in the Official Rules are prizes. Props and decor in photos are not.
Who picks the winner?
The Administrator, using eligible entries and a random draw. The rules put it at about November 24, 2026.
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the US and Canada, 18+ or the age of majority. Void where prohibited. Ends 11/19/2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Official Rules