NPN

No Purchase Necessary (NPN): In the United States, it's a federal law that all sweepstakes provide the disclaimer that a purchase is not required to enter, nor will it increase their chances of winning. Over time the phrase "No Purchase Necessary" (NPN) (along with its sibling, "Void where prohibited") has emerged as the most succinct way to make this disclaimer.

Usually it's put in tiny print somewhere near the bottom of a package. A new law passed on the last day of the 1999 Congressional session requires sweepstakes promoters to place this disclaimer in a more visible location, following a rash of consumer complaints and lawsuits against supposedly deceptive promoters. (One such lawsuit against the well-known Publishers Clearing House has been so costly, they've been forced to file for bankruptcy protection.)

As card companies began using sweepstakes they had to add NPN to their product wrappers and boxes. An example of No Purchase Necessary is:

Hand print your name, e-mail address, complete address with zip code (No PO Boxes), and day/evening telephone numbers with area codes on a 3" x 5" card and mail in an envelope to:

NPN Manager 2004 NFL Sweet Spot Trading Card Request 5909 Sea Otter Place Carlsbad, CA 92008

Limit 1 entry per outer envelope, per person, per household, per day. This will enter you into a drawing that is handled differently company to company. Some open a pack and if it contains a card inserted with odds they send it to you. The numbers of entries limit also varies.