You, like others, may be skeptical of prize money and luxury items that are given away in these contests. Is that because you've never known anyone who has won? These giveaways actually do happen.

Another reason for skepticism is the wonder at how anyone sponsoring the contest or sweepstakes can afford to give anything like these amounts away. Yet, this is just another form of advertising for the sponsor. Each year, huge amounts of money are spent to reach the buying public. Some companies pay several million dollars to have a 30-second advertisement run during the Super Bowl. Others prefer to give that money away and try to get people to notice their name and ultimately buy their products.

Think about it! You receive tons of junk mail every year. When you get the million dollar giveaway envelope, do you open it to see what it says? Chances are, if you read any of the junk mail, that's going to be the one you pick up as opposed to those flyers not giving anything away.

Advertisers understand this and that's why they run legitimate million dollar giveaways?to advertise to people like yourself who might not have heard of this particular company otherwise. This is how the sweepstakes and contests got their start and continue to flourish, and more and more people look toward fulfilling that ultimate millionaire dream!

Do you play the lottery every week? If so, why? To win the big prize money, obviously. There are long odds against winning, but you play anyway because there's always that outside chance, right? If you don't play, your chances are 100 percent that you'll lose, but buying a ticket gets you at least an opportunity of cashing in the ultimate check, no matter how small.

So what's the difference between playing the lottery and participating in sweepstakes and contests? Nothing!

If you devote a little energy into playing all of these contests that come your way, you will create more opportunities for yourself to win and win big. You can't win if you don't play.

Here are opportunities that show up nearly every week for you to realize that dream of being wealthy. And the work effort involved is minimal considering the potential payoff you are striving to attain.

Look at it this way. Contest sponsors are going to give this money away to someone. Why not you? The company bottom line is to advertise their product(s). They will accomplish this through their promotion. If there's something to be won in the meantime, shouldn't you try for it?

What have you got to lose?

Winning a contest can be one of the most exciting things you ever do.

Table of Contents:

* Introduction
* Step 1: OVERVIEW
* Step 2:THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WINNING
* Step 3:THE SWEEPSTAKES GAME
* Step 4: THE CONTEST GAME
* Step 5: SUMMARY

You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.