Any individual who attempts or otherwise encourages, directly or indirectly, the entry of multiple or false contact information under multiple identities, by cellular phone, or uses any device or artifice to enter or encourage, directly or indirectly, multiple or false entries, as determined by the Sweepstakes Entities, will be disqualified.  If you send your entry via text message, the prize will be awarded to the name corresponding to the MTN indicated on your entry. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder submitted at the time of entry.  "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to a mobile telephone number/email address by a telephone company, wireless service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning telephone numbers or wireless phone numbers for the telephone exchange associated with the submitted telephone number/email address or the domain associated with the submitted telephone, as applicable. Sweepstakes Entities and their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliates are not responsible for late, lost, delayed, unclear, unintelligible, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, ineligible or damaged entries which will be disqualified or for technical, hardware, software or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the sender, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes which may limit the ability to play or participate, or by any human error that may occur in the processing of the entries in the Sweepstakes.  The computer clock of the Sweepstakes Entities is the official timekeeping device of the Sweepstakes.

2. ELIGIBILITY:  The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa aged 18 years or older, except employees of the Sweepstakes Entities, their respective parent and affiliated companies, advertising agencies, and promotional partners, and relatives of and those living in the same household as such employees.  For the purpose of this Sweepstakes, relatives are defined as spouse, mother, father, in-laws, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, children and grandchildren.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.  Void where prohibited.

3. SELECTION OF WINNERS: 

1. First Prizes:  1-2 business days after each Sweepstakes Week, the Sweepstakes Entities or their designated judges (whose decisions are final) will conduct a random drawing among all of that Sweepstakes Week’s eligible entries with the correct Daily Code for the Sweepstakes Day during that Sweepstakes Week to determine the First Prize winners for that Sweepstakes Week. 

    

2. Grand Prize: 1-2 business days after the end of the Sweepstakes Period, the Sweepstakes Entities or their designated judges (whose decisions are final) will conduct a random drawing among all of the Sweepstakes Period’s eligible entries with the correct Daily Code for the Sweepstakes Day during that Sweepstakes Period (other than entries of the winners of First Prizes) to determine one (1) Grand Prize winner. 

The winners will be notified by telephone. If a winner cannot be reached after a reasonable attempt has been made by the Sweepstakes Entities (as determined by the Sweepstakes Entities in their sole discretion), such winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected.  Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given. Each winner’s name may be published in any of the STNG Publications.

4. PRIZES/ODDS: 

1. First Prizes: Each Sweepstakes Week during the Sweepstakes Period, there will be one (1) $5,000 First Prize awarded.  There will be a total of six (6) First Prizes awarded during this Sweepstakes, one for each Sweepstakes week during the Sweepstakes Period.
2. Grand Prize: There will be one (1) $25,000 Grand Prize awarded for the entire Sweepstakes Period.

Value of all prizes awarded during this Sweepstakes is $55,000.  Odds of winning depend on number of correct eligible entries received.  All prizes legitimately claimed will be awarded.  All federal, state and local taxes, as well as any expenses not specified in these Official Rules, are the sole responsibility of the winner(s).  No transfers, prize substitutions or cash redemptions will be made, except at the Sweepstakes Entities’ sole discretion.  No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.  Prizes will be mailed to the winner. All prize winners may be required to complete, sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability and Publicity Release (where permitted by law), and any other documents which may be required by the Sweepstakes Entities.

5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By entering, entrant agrees to release, defend, hold harmless and indemnify each of the Sweepstakes Entities and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, contractors, directors, officers, governors, employees and agents against any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described), with respect to or arising out of either (i) any damage to entrant's cellular telephone or computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with entering this Sweepstakes; or (ii) any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind caused by the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize awarded in the Sweepstakes, including but not limited to any claims for damage to property, personal injury, death or claims based on defamation, rights of privacy, rights of publicity or merchandise delivery. False or deceptive entries or acts will render the entrant ineligible. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.  Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for any printing or typographical errors in these Official Rules or any other materials associated with the Sweepstakes.  Entrants enter at their own risk and the Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for and shall not be liable for any condition caused by events beyond their control that may cause the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted.  Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from this Sweepstakes.  The Sweepstakes Entities reserve the right to permanently disqualify any person they believe has violated these Official Rules.

6.  GENERAL RULES: By entering the Sweepstakes (except where prohibited by law), entrants consent to the use of their names, pictures, likenesses, voices, biographical data, and/or any information contained in their entry in advertising, promotion and marketing materials throughout the world, including on the internet, by the Sweepstakes Entities, their promotional partners, and third party marketing entities, without additional compensation, notification, review, or approval.  The Sweepstakes Entities’ decisions will be final in all matters related to this Sweepstakes, the interpretation of these Official Rules and awarding of the prizes.  If the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned for any reason, the Sweepstakes Entities reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes.  DO NOT call the Sweepstakes Entities or their promotional partners, as this Sweepstakes will not be discussed by phone, except at the Sweepstakes Entities’ sole discretion.

7.  WINNERS’ LIST. For the name of the winners, send a legal-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to:  The “Holiday Cash Giveaway” Winners’ List, 350 N. Orleans St., 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654.  Requests must be received no later than three (3) months following the close of the Sweepstakes.

8. SPONSOR. The Chicago Sun-Times LLC, 350 N. Orleans St., 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654.