How I Tried (and Failed) to Win Walmart’s $1,000 Gift Card — and You Can Too

I entered Walmart’s survey sweepstakes so you don’t have to — seriously, it would help my chances of winning a lot if you abstained.

After a recent grocery purchase from Walmart, I received an email inviting me to complete a customer satisfaction survey that would automatically enter me into a drawing. (Official name: The 2025 Q3 Walmart August – October Sweepstakes.) I’ve always considered myself a lucky person, but I’d also never had enough confidence in my good fortune to enter a sweepstakes.

It turns out, this was a quarterly contest, and I only had a few days left to enter for Q2. Since the grand prize is a $1,000 gift card, I figured, “Why not?"

Who Is Eligible?

This contest is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and up. (Note: the minimum age is 19 in Alabama and Nebraska, and 21 in Mississippi.) Well over the age of 30, I was safe in any state. 

For those who qualify, there are three ways to enter:

• Make a purchase at Walmart in person and receive a survey invite on your receipt
• Make a purchase at Walmart.com and receive a survey via email
• Write in via postcard, if you’re feeling quaint and old-timey

The Survey and Competition 

The survey itself took no more than two minutes. It was super easy, although I had a little fun with my answers:

I entered the contest on July 30, a single day before the quarterly deadline. The fine print says that contestants are allowed up to 78 entries per sweepstakes period, suggesting that much of my competition had already been entering for months. Still, I was hoping for some last-minute luck.

(Walmart doesn’t provide specific odds of winning, as this would “depend on the number of eligible entries received for the Sweepstakes.")

The Results

The results were announced a week after the deadline. Unfortunately, I was not selected as a winner. But five lucky Walmart shoppers out there somewhere — actually, we know exactly where they are, just not their full names — received $1,000 gift cards each, limit one per household.

Will I enter the sweepstakes again next quarter? You bet, and I know exactly what I need first: a pack of at least 78 postcards.