Official contest rules

Draft. Final rules require attorney review before launch.

1. Operator. The contests are run by [Operator legal name], [address] ("Operator"). When a sponsor is active, the sponsor is named on the contest page.
2. No purchase necessary. A purchase does not improve chances of winning. Void where prohibited.
3. Eligibility. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older at the time of entry. Employees of Operator and any active sponsor, and their immediate household members, are not eligible.
4. Contest periods. Weekly contests run Monday 12:00:00 AM ET through Sunday 11:59:59 PM ET. Quarterly, yearly, and themed contest dates are posted on each contest page. Operator's server clock is the official timekeeper.
5. How to enter. Create a free account, verify your email, and submit an original, true story about a date you personally experienced through the Worst Dates Ever website or app. Up to 3 entries per person per weekly contest. Stories submitted in the final 48 hours of a weekly contest are entered into the following weekly contest.
6. Entry requirements. Entries must be your own original work, must not have won a prior Operator contest, and must follow the Community Guidelines. Entries may not include full names, contact details, addresses, or other information that identifies another person. Operator may edit entries to remove identifying information.
7. Voting and winner selection. Registered users vote using The Ick (1 point) or Dumpster Fire (2 points). Each user may vote once per entry and may not vote on their own entries. The entry with the most valid points at the end of the contest period wins. Ties are broken by the number of Dumpster Fire votes, then by the earlier submission time.
8. Vote integrity. Operator may review and invalidate votes it believes were cast by automated means, duplicate or fake accounts, coordinated schemes, or any method that violates these rules or the Terms of Service, and may disqualify related entries and accounts. Operator's decisions are final.
9. Prizes. Weekly: if total valid votes in the contest are below 10,000, first place receives a digital restaurant gift card valued at $50. If total valid votes are 10,000 or more, first place receives a $100 digital restaurant gift card and second place receives a $50 digital restaurant gift card. Quarterly, yearly, and themed prizes are listed on each contest page. Gift cards are subject to the issuer's terms. No cash alternative. No transfer or substitution except by Operator, which may substitute a prize of equal or greater value.
10. Quarterly and yearly finals. Weekly winners from each calendar quarter become finalists in that quarter's finals. Quarterly winners become finalists in the yearly finals.
11. Winner notification and claim. Potential winners are notified by email by Monday 5:00 PM ET after the contest period ends and must complete the claim form within 7 days. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited and may be awarded to the next eligible entry.
12. Taxes. Winners are responsible for all taxes. Winners whose total prizes from Operator in a calendar year reach $600 or more must provide a completed IRS Form W-9 before receiving further prizes and will receive a Form 1099.
13. License and publicity. By entering, you grant Operator a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to display, reproduce, edit for length or privacy, illustrate, and share your entry in the app, on social media, in email, and in marketing, and to use your display handle and winner status in announcements, unless prohibited by law.
14. Release. Entrants release Operator and any sponsor from liability arising from participation or prize use, to the extent permitted by law.
15. Platform disclaimer. These contests are not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Apple, Google, Meta, or any dating app.
16. Privacy. Personal information is handled under the Privacy Policy at /privacy.
17. Winners list. Winners are published in the Winners Circle at /winners.