Click here for the 96th Sweepstakes rules

OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE READER’S DIGEST 97th SWEEPSTAKES

1. The 97th Sweepstakes is presented in conjunction with various product offers from Reader's Digest and is open to residents of Australia and New Zealand only. The promotion opens on 17th December 2007 and closes on 9th December 2008. Based on past Sweepstakes, the approximate odds of winning a prize with each entry document are as follows: the $400,000 Grand Prize and $100,000 Jackpot: 1 in 6,084,000; one of the 2,000 Citizen watches: 1 in 3,042; the 2 minor cash prizes of the $5,000 Third Prize or the $10,000 Second Prize: 1 in 6,084,000; the $30,000 Lucky Number Giveaway: 1 in 3,814,000; the $110,000 Thank You Prize and $20,000 Preferred Customer Bonus: 1 in 2,282,000; the $35,000 President's Prize Award: 1 in 2,956,000; the $15,000 Cash Windfall, the $15,000 Cash Bounty, the $10,000 Quick Draw and $25,000 Fast Cash: 1 in 198,000. These odds are calculated on an average of six numbers allocated per entry document.

2. Reader's Digest reserves the right to double the value of any or all of the prizes offered in the Grand Prize Draw, Jackpot Draw, Lucky Number Giveaway, Thank you Prize Draw, Preferred Customer Bonus Draw, President's Prize Award Draw, Cash Windfall Draw, Cash Bounty Draw, The Quick Draw and the Fast Cash Draw, subject to the approval of the various lottery permit authorities. Those prizes would then respectively be increased to $800,000 for the Grand Prize Draw, $200,000 for the Jackpot Draw, $60,000 for the Lucky Number Giveaway, $220,000 for the Thank You Prize Draw, $40,000 for the Preferred Customer Bonus Draw, $70,000 for the President's Prize Award Draw, $30,000 for the Cash Windfall Draw, $30,000 for the Cash Bounty Draw, $20,000 for the Quick Draw and $50,000 for the Fast Cash Draw. The total maximum potential prize value based on doubling all these prizes would then respectively be increased to $1,835,000. The decision to double any or all of the prizes in the above seven draws will be totally at the discretion of Reader's Digest. In the event that any of these prize draws are doubled and the original winner drawn was eligible for the doubled prize but does not claim that prize, any amount unclaimed will be distributed in the unclaimed prize draw in accordance with these rules.

3. Multiple entries are permitted provided each entry is on an original Reader's Digest entry form. No facsimiles or copies permitted. Different limitations may apply for website and phone entry when offered. Entries are not transferable. To be eligible, entries must be received by the Sweepstakes closing date. Additional deadlines apply to certain prizes including the Bonus prizes and, based on postal guidelines, we allow one week for delivery and one week for return in addition to any deadline stated. In some cases where it will not be necessary to return an entry form in order to participate, specific mention will be made of that fact in the promotional material. All eligible entries will qualify as finalists and will have a fair and equal chance to win. All prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.

4. Cash prizes may be represented from time to time as recurring payment options, home improvements, cars, travel, holidays or merchandise. Prize preferences indicated by participants at time of entry simply highlight options available and are not binding; actual choices will be confirmed with the winner following the draw. The Citizen Watch prizes are not redeemable for cash. Cash prizes will be paid in the local currency of the winner. Prizes are not transferable.

5. In the final stages, Chartered Accountants KPMG will conduct the draws and the winners declared will be final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

6. The $15,000 Cash Windfall Draw will be drawn at 10.30am AEST on 17th March 2008, the $15,000 Cash Bounty Draw will be drawn at 10.30am AEST on 16th June 2008, the $10,000 Quick Draw will be drawn at 10.30am AEST on 8th September 2008 and the $25,000 Fast Cash Draw will be drawn at 10.30am AEDST on 12th December 2008. Winners' names will be announced in The Australian on 28th March 2008, 27th June 2008, 19th September 2008 and 19th December 2008 and in The Sunday Star-Times on 30th March 2008, 29th June 2008, 21st September 2008 and 21st December 2008 respectively. The Grand Prize, Jackpot, Second Prize, Third Prize, Thank You Prize & Preferred Customer Bonus, President's Prize Award and Citizen watches will be drawn at 10.30am AEDST on 12th December 2008. Winners from these draws as well as the Lucky Number Giveaway winner will be notified by mail and announced in The Australian on 19th December 2008 and The Sunday Star-Times on 21st December 2008. All draws will take place at 80 Bay Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007. All winners will be notified by mail within 7 days of each relevant draw. In the event that a winner is under the age of 18 years, the prize will be awarded to the winner's parent or guardian. The promoter may conduct such further draws at the same place as the original draw as is necessary at 10.30 am AEDST on 13th March 2009 in order to distribute any prize unclaimed by that date subject, however, subject any written directions from a regulatory authority. In the event of any winners in the unclaimed prize draw, their names will be published in The Australian on 16th March 2009 and The Sunday Star-Times on 22nd March 2009.

7. The Promoter collects entrants' personal information in order to conduct the promotion. If the information requested is not provided, the entrant may not participate in the promotion. By entering the promotion, unless otherwise advised, each entrant also agrees that the Promoter may use this information, or disclose it to other organisations that may use it, in any media for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes without any further reference, payment or other compensation to the entrant, including sending the entrant electronic messages. All personal details of the entrants will be stored at the office of the Promoter. Entrants' personal information may be disclosed to State and Territory lottery departments and winners' names published as required under the relevant lottery legislation. As per the relevant Privacy Legislation, a request to access, update or correct any information should be directed to that office.

8. Entrants consent to the Promoter using the entrant's name, likeness, image and/or voice in the event they are a winner (including photograph, film and/or recording of the same) in any media for an unlimited period without remuneration for the purpose of promoting this competition (including any outcome), and promoting any products manufactured, distributed and/or supplied by the Promoter.

9. For the Lucky Number Giveaway, 1000 numbers will be randomly selected at a drawing by Chartered Accountants KPMG before the promotion commences. KPMG retain the winning numbers in a security safe while the promotion is running. After the promotion closes on 9th December 2008, the first winning number on the list will be released by KPMG to the Sweepstakes Controller who will verify that the customer who was issued the winning number has in fact returned it to Reader's Digest. If the first drawn winning number has not been returned, the $30,000 prize will be awarded to the next number from the list of 1000 numbers which has been returned, and so on, until we come to a number that has been returned/claimed by a customer. The winner will be announced on 12th December 2008 at 10.30am AEDST at Reader's Digest in Sydney.

10. Information on how to enter, the Official Prize List and the conditions of entry described in them form part of the Sweepstakes rules. Prizes will be awarded within 28 days of the results being determined. Employees (and their immediate families) of the promoter and its contractors directly associated with the Sweepstakes are ineligible. The Promoter's decision on all matters pertaining to these rules is final. Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, the promoter (including its officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal injury; or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity); whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the promotion, including, but not limited to, where arising out of the following: (a) any technical difficulties or equipment malfunction (whether or not under the Promoter's control); (b) any theft, unauthorised access or third party interference; (c) any entry or prize claim that is late, lost, altered, damaged or misdirected (whether or not after their receipt by the Promoter) due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter; (d) any variation in prize value to that stated in these Official Rules; (e) Any tax liability incurred by a winner or entrant; and/or (f) Use or redemption of a prize.

11. The Promoter reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of entries and entrants (including an entrant's identity, age and place of residence) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Official Rules or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by the Promoter to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights. Incomplete, indecipherable, or illegible entries will be deemed invalid.

12. If this Sweepstakes is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter, the Promoter reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law (a) to disqualify any entrant; or (b) subject to any written directions from a regulatory authority, to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the promotion, as appropriate.

13. If entry is to be made via the Internet: The close time and date for entry into the promotion is 11.59PM AEST on the deadline date stated, or if no deadline day is stated, by the final closing date. Closing date for the 97th Sweepstakes is 9th December 2008. Limitations on the number of entries permitted could include either one (1) entry only permitted per unique email address OR one (1) entry only permitted per household OR one (1) entry only permitted per entry opportunity. Any cost associated with accessing the promotional website is the entrant's responsibility and is dependent on the Internet service provider used. Reader's Digest accepts no responsibility for late, non-directed or misdirected e-mail, for any technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission or any human error which may occur in the receipt or processing of entries. Further, Reader's Digest accepts no responsibility for damage to computer systems from downloading any information necessary to participate in the Sweepstakes. Reader's Digest reserves the right to terminate or modify the Sweepstakes or the on-line portion of the Sweepstakes at any time if the Reader's Digest on-line service is no longer available or is compromised by any virus, bugs, or other intervention beyond Reader's Digest's control. In either of these events, prizes may be awarded based on electronic entries received prior to date of termination and mail-in entries received as of the closing date. Reader's Digest reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the internet entry process or is in any other way responsible for compromising the orderly operation of the Sweepstakes via the internet. The use of any automated software or any other mechanical or electronic means that allows an entrant to automatically enter repeatedly is prohibited and will render all entries submitted by that entrant invalid.

14. The Promoter is Reader's Digest (Australia) Pty Ltd (ABN 81000565471), 80 Bay Street, Ultimo, NSW Australia. Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPS/07/24246, Vic Permit No. 07/3326, ACT Permit No. TP07/03276, SA Permit No.T07/3735.

Click here for the 96th Sweepstakes rules