# has any non-subscriber ever won Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279 "2019-09-15T18:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/1 "2019-09-15T18:14:20Z")
I figure that sweepstakes entries go to 2 addresses in order to process subscriptions, but are both entries combined in one “barrel”? I always felt that subscribers were only ones drawn, but is any proof that a non-subscriber won sweepstakes? If so, it’s possible that there was non-discloser clause, otherwise others would stop buying subscriptions (which is their meat and potatoes) ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/2 "2019-09-15T21:27:21Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > I figure that sweepstakes entries go to 2 addresses in order to process subscriptions, but are both entries combined in one “barrel”? I always felt that subscribers were only ones drawn, but is any proof that a non-subscriber won sweepstakes? If so, it’s possible that there was non-discloser clause, otherwise others would stop buying subscriptions (which is their meat and potatoes) I assume you mean the top prize? I’ve won many $1, $5, and $10 prizes. I’ve also won one $50 and one $100 prize. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/3 "2019-09-15T21:35:11Z")
They even say that no purchase is necessary in their advertisements. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/4 "2019-09-15T21:38:49Z")
Also, they explicitly claim that no purchase or subscription is necessary to win. If that’s not true, they’re in violation of a bunch of laws and regulations. And we know they’ve been closely examined because of various congressional investigations: > **[PCH: Publishers Clearing House Investigation - Consumer Reports News](https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/04/don-t-be-mislead-by-publishers-clearing-house/index.htm)** > > A Senate committee investigation says Publishers Clearing House may be misleading consumers by sending out sweepstakes solicitations that At the bottom of that are two claims I have no reason to doubt (since again, they’re under a magnifying glass): That only 1 in 37 entries buys something, and that the majority of winners did not. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/5 "2019-09-15T22:06:04Z")
> [@fedman](#): > > I figure that sweepstakes entries go to 2 addresses in order to process subscriptions, but are both entries combined in one “barrel”? You’ll notice that on the back of the mail-in entry envelope there is a hole where the serial number of the entry shows through. I doubt they even open the envelope for the non-purchasers. I bet they just scan the serial number and then just enter it into their sweepstakes entry data base. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/6 "2019-09-15T23:38:42Z")
thanks to all who replied–I guess I’m just doubtful type ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/7 "2019-09-16T00:09:00Z")
Many moons ago I saw a news segment about the sweepstakes. It showed a sorting machine with the received envelopes going through at a rate of several per second. The PR rep talking to the reporter claimed the machine was entering every envelope into the contest and you could see how some envelopes were being shunted aside for processing and the majority were going into a shredder. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-non-subscriber-ever-won-publishers-clearing-house-sweepstakes/840279/8 "2019-09-16T13:49:08Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I’ve won many $1, $5, and $10 prizes. I’ve also won one $50 and one $100 prize. I’ve been entering PCH sweeps for decades – especially now that it can be done online and costs only a minute or two and no stamp – and all I’ve got to show for it is one $10 prize.