AARP Online Community and Discussion Forums - impossible to win instant awards

Tomsowa · ‎04-08-2021

I'm deeply distrustful of the whole Rewards operation.

For one, I've gone through more than 400 consecutive Instant Wins and won nothing. NADA.

And why is that? Anyone explain that?

And what about finding out some general information on who's winning the rewards sweepstakes? Is there any attempt on the part of the provider/operator or AARP Rewards to give out some information that explains there are real people winning the sweeps?

AND why can't the provider of AARP Rewards provide me a running total of my cumulative entries into a sweepstake? It used to do that, provide a running total on all my entries, but now it doesn't do that.

As always, I'm deeply skeptical of the people running this thing...

Tom G. Sowa

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-26-2026

[Sunday 7/26/26]

Lol, I am feeling so UNluved by the Instant Win setup.

➡️[*** Anyone win any last night or today/tonight?

Yes, still ZERO for me for 2026. 😞

Nicole!

andrewtoo · ‎07-22-2026

@SummerOnTheWay1

The official rules link for the Amazon IW game is out there now.

Thanks for asking about it early in the day!

@AARPTeri

Thanks for all you do.

AndrewToo

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-22-2026

[Wednesday 7/22/26 12:33pm ET]

Thanks for the "heads up" Andrew @andrewtoo & yes, AARP Teri @AARPTeri is SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you Teri 💛🤗

➡️[*** ANDREW @andrewtoo wrote:
@SummerOnTheWay1
The official rules link for the Amazon IW game is out there now.
Thanks for asking about it early in the day!

@AARPTeri
Thanks for all you do.

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-22-2026

[Wednesday 7/22/26 1:17am ET]

Could NOT "play" the Amazon $100 Instant "free entry" as link is missing to do so. AARP Teri @AARPTeri , please help - thanks.

📸[*** Screeprint of "issue" is attached.

I will try later if fixed.

Played Lowes, Autozone & Burger King and NO, didnot win. 😞

Any WINNERS out there?

Woke up, now heading back to sleep hopefully. 🤞

Have a GREAT Wednesday All,

Nicole 🤗💛

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-22-2026

Fixed!!! 🎉💃

@SummerOnTheWay1 wrote:
[Wednesday 7/22/26 1:17am ET]

Could NOT "play" the Amazon $100 Instant "free entry" as link is missing to do so. AARP Teri @AARPTeri , please help - thanks.

📸[*** Screeprint of "issue" is attached.

I will try later if fixed.

Played Lowes, Autozone & Burger King and NO, didnot win. 😞

Any WINNERS out there?

Woke up, now heading back to sleep hopefully. 🤞

Have a GREAT Wednesday All,
Nicole 🤗💛

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-21-2026

[Tuesday 7/21/26 2:25am ET]

Anyone WON any Instants this week? 🤔

Lol, just "played" Lowes, Auto-Zone, Burger King, Kohl's & NO luck. 😞

jdhellen · ‎07-21-2026

Won two days ago (Brinker) and again today (Autozone). Very unusual though. I've won 13 so far this year though. I play every day and mostly around 12-1AM EST.

MichaelH852670 · ‎07-21-2026

I've won 5 times this year. See below. You can see it is pretty sporadic.

My wife has actually won 9 times. Since we are in Hawaii, we generally play at 12-3AM EST (6-9PM in Hawaii).

1/22/26: Me (1) – $10 AMC
1/24/26: Me (2) – $10 Bonefish Grill
3/23/26: Me (3) – $10 Ulta
7/3/26: Me (4) – $10 PetsMart
7/11/26: Me (5) – $10 Lane Bryant
2/8/26: Deb (1) – $10 Ace HW
2/8/26: Deb (2) – $10 IHOP
3/22/26: Deb (3) – $10 PetsMart
3/28/26: Deb (4) – $10 Top Golf
4/12/26: Deb (5) – $10 Total Wines & More
4/17/26: Deb (6) – $10 Lowes
5/16/26: Deb (7) – $10 Amazon
5/21/26: Deb (8) – $10 JC Penney
6/20/26: Deb (9) – $10 Kohls

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-22-2026

[Wednesday 7/22/26 1:05pm ET]

Lol Michael @MichaelH852670 , looks like I NEED to move to you & your wife's state. Still ZERO "wins" for this year 2026 for me. 😞 I am in Virginia (Eastern Time Zone). But SO HAPPY for you guys!!! 💃🎉

➡️[*** MICHAEL @MichaelH852670 wrote:
I've won 5 times this year. See below. You can see it is pretty sporadic.
My wife has actually won 9 times. Since we are in Hawaii, we generally play at 12-3AM EST (6-9PM in Hawaii).
1/22/26: Me (1) – $10 AMC
1/24/26: Me (2) – $10 Bonefish Grill
3/23/26: Me (3) – $10 Ulta
7/3/26: Me (4) – $10 PetsMart
7/11/26: Me (5) – $10 Lane Bryant

2/8/26: Deb (1) – $10 Ace HW
2/8/26: Deb (2) – $10 IHOP
3/22/26: Deb (3) – $10 PetsMart
3/28/26: Deb (4) – $10 Top Golf
4/12/26: Deb (5) – $10 Total Wines & More
4/17/26: Deb (6) – $10 Lowes
5/16/26: Deb (7) – $10 Amazon
5/21/26: Deb (8) – $10 JC Penney
6/20/26: Deb (9) – $10 Kohls

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-21-2026

[Tuesday 7/21/26 2:52am ET]

Oh my goodness Michael @MichaelH852670 , that is totally AWESOME!!! 💃🎉

Take care,

Nicole!

➡️[*** MICHAEL @MichaelH852670 wrote:
I've won 5 times this year. See below. You can see it is pretty sporadic.
My wife has actually won 9 times. Since we are in Hawaii, we generally play at 12-3AM EST (6-9PM in Hawaii).
1/22/26: Me (1) – $10 AMC
1/24/26: Me (2) – $10 Bonefish Grill
3/23/26: Me (3) – $10 Ulta
7/3/26: Me (4) – $10 PetsMart
7/11/26: Me (5) – $10 Lane Bryant

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-21-2026

[Tuesday 7/21/26 2:49am ET]

CONGRATS @jdhellen !!! 🎉💃

I had woken up & decided to play. Then crawled back in bed disappointed.

Still HOPING to win at least ONE for this year 2026. 🤞

Have a GREAT day/night Everyone,

Nicole 💛🤗

➡️[*** @jdhellen wrote:
Won two days ago (Brinker) and again today (Autozone). Very unusual though. I've won 13 so far this year though. I play every day and mostly around 12-1AM EST.

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-19-2026

[Sunday 7/19/26 2:27pm ET]

Have NOT "played" any Instants as yet today.

Going to "try" my luck at 2:30pm ET today (in a few minutes). This was one of the times a member posted on this thread as the time they WON.

Other times posted on this thread.

ALL EASTERN TIMES.

➡️[*** 3am, 3:30am, 11am, 8:10pm.

There are more times I am sure posted in the 7 pages of this thread. Lol, still "reading" through them as I have the time.

GOOD luck today/tonight everyone. 🤞

Please let us know IF you win. 😉

Nicole 💛🤗

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-19-2026

[Sunday 7/19/26 2:38pm ET]

Nope, NO luck. 😞

Played ONLY Lowe's, AutoZone, Burger King & Kohl's.

Used the "free" option.

Hope someone wins something today/tonight.

Nicole 🙃

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-19-2026

[Sunday 7/19/26 4:01pm ET]

Here are ALL the "times" posters won an Instant on this thread.

ALL EASTERN TIMES.

➡️[*** 12am, 12:30am, 1:30am, 3am, 3:02am, 3:30am, 6am, 11am, 2:30pm, 8:10pm, 9pm.

One person suggested spreading the 7 out = some in morning, more in evening, rest at night. He has won using this. I will try that tomorrow although I only play what I can use.

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-19-2026

[Sunday 7/19/26 4:04pm ET]

I gave EVERYONE "kudos" on this thread = I am HOPING the old-timers will get notified via an AARP email that they received a "kudo" 🤞 = will return to chat with us. 🎉💃 You are missed. 😞

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-18-2026

[Saturday 7/18/26 6:40am ET]

Has anyone WON any of the $100 Instant Wins?

Thanks & have a GREAT Saturday All!!!

Nicole 🤔💛

BtW751689 · ‎07-18-2026

Yes, it was many years ago, the old navy. I would do the max per day and it is the only one I won. I stopped playing the sweeps and even the IW are few and far inbetween. Oops I see now you are referring to the IW not the sweeps.

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-18-2026

[7/18/26] I appreciate your feedback @BtW751689 !!!

➡️[*** BTW @BtW751689 wrote:
Yes, it was many years ago, the old navy. I would do the max per day and it is the only one I won. I stopped playing the sweeps and even the IW are few and far inbetween. Oops I see now you are referring to the IW not the sweeps.

Karyn8 · ‎07-18-2026

This is a cut back in rewards these $100 ones. They are only giving 10 or 15 of these which is less then 200 rewards at $10. It used to be super rewards were giving 400 of the $10 instant wins so many people could win. Winning now is few and far between.

Karyn

KennethG683811 · ‎07-18-2026

That and incresing to 75 points from 50 to play, why???

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-18-2026

[7/18/26] Kenneth @KennethG683811 , I am "guessing" to make the cards LAST LONGER. If they had kept things the way it was (when it was age 55+ members,NOW age 18+ = ALOT of new members I am assuming 🤔), they would "probably" have to ADD ALOT more cards to keep members happy. 😉 I have been "noticing" people (myself included) have been NOT SO QUICK to "redeem" our 3 monthly redemptions. Lol, I am still WAITING on a "Jersey Mike's". Last month there was ONE on the 25th. If it does NOT "pop up" on the 31st of THIS MONTH, hopefully there will be a card I can use. Now to give them "credit" (Merkle & AARP), THIS MONTH they have already ADDED 5 Walmart cards & "may" add MORE. 🤞 I only go to Walmart once a month for my NON food items so these are NOT on my Priority List. Now I could use the Kroger cards for my Weekly Food Shopping. But doubt that will be happening. 😞

➡️[*** KENNETH @KennethG683811 wrote:
That and incresing to 75 points from 50 to play, why???

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-18-2026

[7/18/26] I appreciate your feedback Karyn @Karyn8 !!!

➡️[*** KARYN @Karyn8 wrote:
This is a cut back in rewards these $100 ones. They are only giving 10 or 15 of these which is less then 200 rewards at $10. It used to be super rewards were giving 400 of the $10 instant wins so many people could win. Winning now is few and far between.

andrewtoo · ‎07-17-2026

I have to admit that it seems like playing IW games at times when other members of the rewards program are not as active would be the best time to enter an instant win for a day.

One of the official rules states, as an example: "There will be 200 random,
computer-generated winning times during the Promotion Period. If you are the first player to play the
Instant Win Game at or after one of the randomly-generated times, you will be a potential instant winner of the prize offered for this calendar day."

Ok, so there are random times that are likely going to be available throughout the 7 day window, and throughout the days of the promotion period. There will not be more wins available at peak usage times; after all, the times are random.

My Copilot AI stated that times of 2AM to 6AM EST were the best time to enter. Also, Holiday's. I remember holidays that I was too busy to enter at all, so the logic seems to hold water. Another time mentioned is late Sunday night. I don't know what late is but after 10PM (ET?), I assume. And, lastly during big news events or sports finals are mentioned as good times to enter.

As for the worst time to play, Copilot mentions from 9AM to 10PM as the possible worst times to win by entering an IW game.

Like @SereneSeagull I do believe that the result of an AI search involving AARP Rewards would consider the opinions posted here in the community. However, the results from my AI search mentioned above seem reasonable.

AndrewToo

KennethG683811 · ‎07-18-2026

I just play when I have to get up in the middle of the night to do what many guys our age have to do, and I have won a couple of times!!

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-18-2026

[7/18/26] Lol Kenneth @KennethG683811 , OLD women too!!! Great idea, I will add that to my "list" to try. The only "challenge" for me is that I am "usually" half asleep & just want to crawl back into bed. 🙄

➡️[*** KENNETH @KennethG683811 wrote:
I just play when I have to get up in the middle of the night to do what many guys our age have to do, and I have won a couple of times!!

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-17-2026

[7/17/26] Excellent post as usual Andrew @andrewtoo !!! Lol, I guess starting TONIGHT "after" 12 midnight ET - I can "try" something different. 😉 I will be sure to post IF I win & time. Now to hope one of those times works. 🤞 Anyone else up for "experimenting" & letting us know IF you win? 🤔 It would FUN to see what happens!!! Thanks again Andrew for taking the time to post these times. Everyone have a GREAT night, Nicole 🤗💛

➡️[*** ANDREW @andrewtoo wrote:
I have to admit that it seems like playing IW games at times when other members of the rewards program are not as active would be the best time to enter an instant win for a day.

One of the official rules states, as an example: "There will be 200 random,
computer-generated winning times during the Promotion Period. If you are the first player to play the
Instant Win Game at or after one of the randomly-generated times, you will be a potential instant winner of the prize offered for this calendar day."

Ok, so there are random times that are likely going to be available throughout the 7 day window, and throughout the days of the promotion period. There will not be more wins available at peak usage times; after all, the times are random.

My Copilot AI stated that times of 2AM to 6AM EST were the best time to enter. Also, Holiday's. I remember holidays that I was too busy to enter at all, so the logic seems to hold water. Another time mentioned is late Sunday night. I don't know what late is but after 10PM (ET?), I assume. And, lastly during big news events or sports finals are mentioned as good times to enter.

As for the worst time to play, Copilot mentions from 9AM to 10PM as the possible worst times to win by entering an IW game.

Like @SereneSeagull I do believe that the result of an AI search involving AARP Rewards would consider the opinions posted here in the community. However, the results from my AI search mentioned above seem reasonable.

andrewtoo · ‎07-17-2026

I won a $10 IHOP less than a week ago.

Even used the free method.

It was shortly after 9 PM Eastern time and I don’t consider that late or a period of necessarily low activity. It’s prime time for goodness sake.

I have found that I have won more when I enter all of the Instant win games every day.

AndrewToo

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-17-2026

[7/17/26] Glad you stopped by Andrew @andrewtoo & CONGRATS on your win!!! 🎉

➡️[*** ANDREW @andrewtoo wrote:
I won a $10 IHOP less than a week ago.
Even used the free method.
It was shortly after 9 PM Eastern time and I don’t consider that late or a period of necessarily low activity. It’s prime time for goodness sake.
I have found that I have won more when I enter all of the Instant win games every day.

SummerOnTheWay1 · ‎07-17-2026

[Friday 7/17/26]

I just asked the Google AI "how to win the AARP Instant Wins"./lol 😂

There were many tips but one I AGREE on is the one about playing during the SLOW PERIOD. AI says that time is "early" mornings in ET & "late" night also in ET.

An AARP friend of mine has won SEVERAL & CONSISTENTLY in the early mornings (ET).

I have NOT "won" any so far for 2026. 😞 Won 2 last year May 2025 when I "joined" the AARP Rewards Program.

Any thoughts on what the Google AI said about the SLOW PERIOD? Has this worked for you?

Meanwhile I plan to keep playing either EARLY or LATE in ET time which is my timezone here in Virginia. Lol, maybe I will win at least 1 this year 2026.

Yes, this is an OLD thread but has alot of old-timer feedback. They KNOW stuff! 👍

GOOD luck All,

Nicole 🤞