Whether you're running an office Christmas raffle, a charity fundraiser, or a social media giveaway, the success of your prize draw depends on one thing above all else: people believing it's genuinely fair.

Why Transparency Matters More Than Fairness

Being fair is not enough on its own. You also have to be seen to be fair. If you draw a winner privately and announce it afterwards, some participants will always wonder whether the draw was genuine. A spinning wheel shown in real time removes all doubt.

Step 1: Define Your Rules Before You Start

Before collecting a single entry, write down the rules and make them publicly available. Cover who is eligible, how entries are collected, the closing date, when and how the draw takes place, what the prizes are, how winners will be notified, and what happens to unclaimed prizes.

Step 2: Collect and Verify Your Entries

However you collect entries, make sure you have a clear, auditable record. Before the draw, deduplicate your list and remove any entries that don't meet your eligibility criteria. For large or high-stakes draws, have a second person verify the final entry list.

Step 3: Choose a Visible, Random Selection Method

A digital spinning wheel provides a visual, engaging, and obviously random selection that everyone can watch. To use WheelNamer for your prize draw, add every eligible entry to the wheel and spin. The animation is smooth and compelling, ideal for streaming or recording.

For Small Draws (Under 50 Entries)

Add each entrant's name directly to the wheel. Spin once per prize. The whole process takes minutes and can be recorded easily on a phone.

For Medium Draws (50-500 Entries)

Consider a two-stage process: spin to select a shortlist of finalists, then spin again from the shortlist to select the winner. This creates two exciting moments.

For Large Draws (500+ Entries)

WheelNamer's built-in number generator can select a random number between any range, from negative one million to positive one million. Set it to match your numbered entry list and generate a winning number. Record the screen and the corresponding entry.

Step 4: Record Everything

Whatever method you use, record the draw on video. The recording should show the full list of entries before the spin, the tool in its starting state, the spin happening in real time, and the result clearly visible. Keep this recording for at least 90 days after the draw.

Step 5: Announce the Winner Publicly

Contact winners privately before making any public announcement. Then post publicly with a clip of the draw. This demonstrates authenticity and encourages participation in future competitions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Drawing privately, forgetting to remove ineligible entries, not having a plan for unclaimed prizes, running a draw without legal checks, and using a method that can't be verified are the most common pitfalls.

Getting Started

WheelNamer is completely free to use and works on any device. Add entries manually or build a custom wheel for your draw in under a minute. No account, no installation, no technical knowledge required.