Create Contest: Giveaway Bot

Want to give away prizes in a channel but dread counting entrants by hand and picking a winner by eye? The bot called Create Contest (a bot for running giveaways) takes the routine on itself. It works in both channels and chats. 🎁

Here is what it can do and how to run a giveaway without drama.

What the bot can do

Its description lists five features. They cover the typical needs of a giveaway host.

• Media file: dress up the giveaway with an image or video.
• Subscription check: entrants must be subscribed to the required channels.
• Scheduled posting: publish at a set time.
• Winner reroll: if a winner does not respond.
• Bot protection: filters out inflated entries.

Everyday commands

Control goes through slash commands. Here is what to know.

• /create: start a new giveaway.
• /select: a list of your giveaways.
• /channel: channels connected to the bot.
• /profile: your profile.
• /help: contact support.
• /donate: support the project.
• /start: restart the bot.

Open source: a plus for trust

The author states that the bot's source code is open. Any developer can look at how winners are picked and confirm there is no trick. For fair giveaways, that matters.

For you as a host it is an extra argument: you can point to the open code if entrants doubt fairness.

Running a giveaway, step by step

1. Open the bot and connect your channel via /channel.
2. Create the giveaway with /create: add text, an image and the prize.
3. Set conditions: which channels to subscribe to and when to publish.
4. Wait for the results and announce winners. Pick new ones if needed.

State the rules clearly in the post: end date, number of winners and how the prize is handed over.

Avoiding trouble

Join partner channels in advance and make sure the bot has the right permissions: without them the subscription check will not work. Do not promise a prize you cannot deliver.

In some countries giveaways are regulated by law, especially with cash prizes and advertising. If in doubt, consult a lawyer. ⚖️

Who it is for

Channel admins, shops, bloggers and chat organizers who need a simple way to engage an audience. It suits a one-off giveaway among friends as well: setup takes a couple of minutes.

Entrants should remember that winning is chance. Do not spend money for a shot at a prize, and never hand login codes to an organizer.