Has anyone ever won any of the instant sweepstakes?

[CarmaY105065]

I know it doesn't use many points but I am curious if anyone has ever won any of the instant prizes?

[andrewtoo]

$10 IHOP....free entry, it works

[mjt1959]

In the past 2 months I have won 3 times, A few months ago I actually won a $100 Walmart gift card

[drlindamc]

Yes, I play daily all the instant wins I think I or my close relatives can use, & win probably once a month on average. Anecdotally I can tell you that I’ve found that if I EARN maximum points daily for several days in a row, I’m more likely to win an instant win. Although the AARP people will tell you this isn’t true, that has been my experience over the past 8-9 yrs

[SereneSeagull]

Ironically, last night around midnight I won a $10 Sonic card with some throw-away points.  Shocked the hell out of me.  🤣

[andrewtoo]

@Vexed 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  Above and beyond this silly rewards program, may you and yours be blessed.

[Vexed]

 Thank you @andrewtoo  and to you also.

[Vexed]

 I have never won any instant win or sweepstakes  at all since I joined in 21.

 Congrats to those that have won something.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎@Vexed , do you play them EVERY DAY?

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➡️[*** @Vexed wrote:

 I have never won any instant win or sweepstakes  at all since I joined in 21.

 Congrats to those that have won something.

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[Vexed]

 Yes, I do. I might have missed a few days here and there for hubby's chemo, hard days  and hospital stays.   Pretty much play every day that I am upright. 

[andrewtoo]

Like @shamit I have won 5 instant wins this year.

It has been a very lucky year for me.  I have had 6-month periods without winning an instant win game prize.  I do nothing special; I just enter all of them every day.

Good Luck🍀

[ej64073754]

I just played the $100 Walmart Instant Win and this is the result. After talking with customer service, I was told the 3 horizonal gift cards have to line up in the middle to win. I read the rules - there's nothing in there that says they have to line up that way. What do you think?

[BroadwayBelle1]

I have had that happen, where it looks like a win but isn't - that's often due to my machine being lagging behind, it does catch up and then there is no match.  

[mjt1959]

    I discovered that quite a while ago I did research and did read that was the case but I cant remember exactly where I found the info. With the $100 walmart card I did actually win one which shocked the hell out of me! 

[RenateW69623]

When they first introduced these games for doing Instant Wins, a lot of people had the same question you did (you can search the community history for these discussions), and the official response was the same you were given (you have to get three in a row in the middle row to win).  But it would be nice if they would actually say this in the rules, to avoid confusion.

[SereneSeagull]

Yeah, that’s aggravating, for sure.  I look at the payout line on these as if it’s a slot machine with the line in the middle.  Of course with most real slots there are multiple payout ways..diagonal etc…, but the fact there is no explanation on the game as to where the winning line is, gives them leeway to say it is x and not y, when asked. lol!  

[RenateW69623]

It really appears that the chances of winning the Instant wins is random. If someone has a method to increase the odds of winning, I expect they are keeping it to themselves 😀.  I have been a member for about 5 years.  During that time, I once went over a year without winning any Instant Wins, even though I play them all.  This year, so far I have won 2 of them.  I have never won a sweepstakes (I enter about 2 - 3 sweepstakes a month).

[shamit]

I have won 5 instant wins this year ($10 each of Panera, Barnes & Noble,  Walmart, Utla, and Kohls).  I also won a $100 Walgreens Sweepstakes. I won 20 $10 Instant wins last year (2025) and 2 $100 Sweepstakes.  I use a lot of point every month.

[Barbisme]

Wowza! Do u have any particular winning strategy? I haven’t won any instant wins, but did win 2 $100 sweeps.

[4Tigger2]

Once, I won a $10 Panera egc on Feb 22.  No sweepstakes wins, but this was my 1st iw from AARP since joining in 2024.

Good Luck!

[4Tigger2]

Won a $10 Petsmart gc on the iwg this morning!  

Glad that I decided to try before going back to sleep. 

The 3 Petsmart gc symbols lined up in the middle line.

The gc email came less than 30 minutes after I won.

Good luck to all!

[blchr]

  I've won several times. Most recently AMC Theater April 29 and Chipotle March 31. (both $10) Won Walmart a year ago and another AMC 2 years ago.