My sweepstakes friend Jennifer sent me this video, and I knew I had to share it because one key to winning sweepstakes is choosing entries with the best odds. Be aware that this post is specifically about influencer Instagram giveaways, not those hosted by well-known brands or smaller local companies as part of their overall marketing plan.

The Hobby

I know, from firsthand experience, that real people can win giveaways more than once. What raised a red flag in this situation is not winning twice or even three times. It is the same person appearing as the winner of multiple high-value influencer and brand giveaways within a very short window of time, all from large accounts with massive engagement.

At that point, this stops being about luck and starts being about math.

That is the core of what Hannah Alonzo breaks down in the video I have embedded below. The odds of one account winning this many large giveaways, each with hundreds of thousands of entries, are not slim. They are statistically absurd. We are talking “more likely to be struck by lightning” territory.

What This Exposes About Influencer Giveaways

The bigger takeaway is not one suspicious winner. It is how influencer giveaways actually work behind the scenes.

Giveaways are not charity. They are marketing tools designed to boost followers, engagement, and visibility. That does not automatically make them bad, but it does mean the system is built to reward attention rather than fairness.

This is where I disagree with Hannah. As someone who has conducted drawings using the comment-based randomization discussed in the video, I believe they are fair. Yes, programs like Woobox, Social Sprout, and Comment Picker only count comments, not quality entries. That is their purpose.

Someone entering once or twice may be competing against someone who could be commenting hundreds of times, but that is part of the hobby, and part of deciding where your precious entry time is best spent.

Loop Giveaways Make It Worse

I have always recommended sweepers avoid loop giveaways because they require you to follow a long list of accounts to enter. Behind the scenes, smaller creators or brands often pay to be included in that list. Your follow is the product being sold. You might win a prize, but the primary purpose is follower farming, not generosity.

Why This Matters To You As An Entrant

A key to winning is discernment. You need to evaluate a winning opportunity and decide whether it’s worth your time. For these types of Instagram giveaways, first glance at the likes, then the comments. If both are ridiculously high, keep scrolling, no matter how great the prize is.

I recommend you enter your “regular” giveaways first, and if you have time, or downtime, waiting time, etc., enter social media giveaways.

My Takeaway

The most important conclusion from this situation is simple: at a minimum, these giveaways are not being run on an even playing field. Someone is gaming the system. We may not always know who, but the outcome is the same.

Watch the video below for the full investigation and receipts. It is worth it.

And then ask yourself one simple question the next time you see a giveaway on your feed: Is this worth my time, or is my attention the real prize?

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.