How to run your first live stream giveaway

A good live stream giveaway starts with a clear promise: what the prize is, who can enter, which keyword to type and when entries close. Keep the instructions short enough to read aloud. Choose a prize you can deliver and explain any region, device or redemption restrictions before accepting entries.

For a first test, choose a small slot count and keep the prize empty. A practice round lets you check the overlay and the entry flow without sharing a real key. Viewers enter from their platform chat; they do not need a SpinDeck account.

1. 01

   Create a giveaway

   Sign in to your SpinDeck dashboard and choose New giveaway. Choose Prize giveaway when you are awarding a prize, or Viewer selection to pick someone for a game, challenge or participation spot. Name the activity; add prize details only for a prize giveaway. Viewer selections do not require a prize code or delivery tracking. Choose a slot count; the default supported range is 2 to 200. A slot is one accepted entry, not the number of messages a viewer can send.

2. 02

   Connect the correct stream

   Paste your Twitch or Kick channel, or the specific YouTube live video URL. For YouTube, confirm that live chat is enabled on that video. Follow the Twitch, YouTube Live or Kick setup for platform details.

3. 03

   Choose a clear keyword

   Use a short keyword such as !join or !key. Ask viewers to send it by itself. Matching ignores letter case, but the keyword must be a complete word separated by whitespace. For example, !key matches !KEY; !keyplease does not.

4. 04

   Set the draw behavior

   Enable automatic spin if you want the full deck to trigger the countdown. If you prefer to decide when entries close, use the manual spin control with accepted entries. Announce your approach before the giveaway starts.

5. 05

   Add the overlay and open entries

   Copy the round's overlay link into an OBS Browser Source at 1920 × 1080. The OBS setup guide covers placement and customization. Choose Go live in the control room, then check the chat status and one real keyword entry before announcing the giveaway.

Accepted viewers appear as avatar cards in the deck. Repeating the keyword from an already accepted platform account does not create extra slots. If the platform does not supply a profile picture, SpinDeck uses a generated avatar.

When automatic spin fills the deck, the countdown begins. The server selects a random accepted entry before the animation starts, and the overlay animates to that result. The visual reveal does not change the selected winner. Each accepted entry has an equal chance; broadcast delay can make the reveal reach stream viewers later than the public page.

Verify the winning platform account, then deliver the prize privately. If you stored a prize code, send its claim link only to the verified winner. Anyone holding that link can reveal the code. Never paste it in public chat or show it on your stream.

After a completed draw, choose Next round in the control room. Confirm the next prize, optional new code, keyword, slots and automatic spin preference. The next round starts as a draft; choose Go live when you are ready to accept fresh entries.

Your public viewer link and OBS link stay the same. The previous draw is saved separately with its winner and prize delivery information. Entries start fresh, and the old prize code is not copied into the new round. Tell chat to enter again after the new round opens.