{"id":31,"date":"2020-05-07T00:06:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T00:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweepwidget.com\/docs\/?p=31"},"modified":"2026-03-06T19:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:40:12","slug":"geo-targeting-restrict-users-by-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweepwidget.com\/docs\/geo-targeting-restrict-users-by-country","title":{"rendered":"Geo-Targeting: Restrict Entries by Country and State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Geo-targeting lets you control which countries (and even states\/provinces) can enter your giveaway. You can either allow<\/strong> only specific locations or block<\/strong> specific locations from entering. This is essential for legal compliance, shipping limitations, or region-specific promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Use Geo-Targeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Legal requirements<\/strong> – Some countries have strict giveaway\/sweepstakes laws<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shipping limitations<\/strong> – Physical prizes can only be shipped to certain regions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Regional promotions<\/strong> – Target specific markets for localized campaigns<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sponsor requirements<\/strong> – Sponsors may require geographic restrictions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Currency\/payment limitations<\/strong> – Gift cards or vouchers may only work in certain countries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • State-level compliance<\/strong> – Some US states, Canadian provinces, or other regions have specific contest laws<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    How to Set Up Geo-Targeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1: Go to Security Settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Create or edit a giveaway<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Click on the Security Settings<\/strong> tab in the left sidebar<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Step 2: Enable Geo-Targeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Check the box labeled “Enable geo-targeting”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Step 3: Choose Allow or Block Mode<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Select one of the two modes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Only allow these locations<\/strong> – Only participants from the countries you select can enter. Everyone else is blocked.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Block these locations<\/strong> – Everyone can enter except<\/em> participants from the countries you select.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        Mode<\/th>Use Case<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
        Only allow<\/strong><\/td>You know exactly which countries should be eligible (e.g., US-only sweepstakes)<\/td><\/tr>
        Block<\/strong><\/td>You want to run a worldwide giveaway but need to exclude specific countries for legal reasons<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Step 4: Select Countries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Use the search field to find and select countries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Type a country name in the “Search countries…”<\/strong> field<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Click a country from the dropdown to add it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Selected countries appear as blue pill badges above the search field<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Click the x<\/strong> on any pill to remove that country<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          You can add as many countries as you need. The full list includes all 249 internationally recognized countries and territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Step 5: Select States\/Provinces (Optional)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          For supported countries, you can restrict entries down to the state or province level. When you select one of the following countries, a state\/province section automatically appears below with checkboxes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Country<\/th>Regions Available<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
          United States<\/strong><\/td>50 states + District of Columbia<\/td><\/tr>
          Canada<\/strong><\/td>13 provinces and territories<\/td><\/tr>
          United Kingdom<\/strong><\/td>4 nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)<\/td><\/tr>
          Australia<\/strong><\/td>8 states and territories<\/td><\/tr>
          Brazil<\/strong><\/td>27 states<\/td><\/tr>
          India<\/strong><\/td>36 states and union territories<\/td><\/tr>
          Germany<\/strong><\/td>16 federal states<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          By default, all states\/provinces are selected<\/strong> when you add a supported country. To restrict to specific states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Uncheck the “All”<\/strong> checkbox next to the country name<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Select only the states\/provinces you want to include (or exclude, depending on your mode)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            For countries not in the list above, geo-targeting works at the country level only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Step 6: Save Your Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Click Save & Publish<\/strong> to apply the geo-targeting restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            What Blocked Users See<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            When someone from a restricted location visits your giveaway, they see the message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            “This location is not allowed to enter.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            The giveaway details (title, description, countdown, prize info) are still visible, but the entry form and entry methods are hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            How Geo-Targeting Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            Aspect<\/th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
            Detection method<\/strong><\/td>IP-based geolocation via Cloudflare<\/td><\/tr>
            Country accuracy<\/strong><\/td>Highly accurate at the country level<\/td><\/tr>
            State\/province accuracy<\/strong><\/td>Generally accurate, but may vary in some regions<\/td><\/tr>
            Enforcement<\/strong><\/td>Both client-side (widget) and server-side (login and entry submission)<\/td><\/tr>
            VPN users<\/strong><\/td>May appear from a different location. Combine with “Block VPNs” for stronger enforcement.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            SweepWidget enforces geo-targeting at multiple points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Widget load<\/strong> – The giveaway widget checks the visitor’s location when it loads and hides the entry form if they are restricted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Login\/entry submission<\/strong> – The server verifies the user’s location again when they attempt to log in or submit an entry. This prevents bypassing the client-side check.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              For state-level restrictions, if the visitor’s state cannot be determined, the system falls back to country-level enforcement only. This means the country restriction is always enforced, but state-level checks are skipped if region data is unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Common Country Combinations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
              Region<\/th>Countries<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
              North America<\/strong><\/td>United States, Canada, Mexico<\/td><\/tr>
              English-speaking<\/strong><\/td>United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland<\/td><\/tr>
              European Union<\/strong><\/td>Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland (and others)<\/td><\/tr>
              Scandinavia<\/strong><\/td>Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland<\/td><\/tr>
              DACH region<\/strong><\/td>Germany, Austria, Switzerland<\/td><\/tr>
              Latin America<\/strong><\/td>Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru<\/td><\/tr>
              Asia Pacific<\/strong><\/td>Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              Use Cases<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
              Scenario<\/th>Mode<\/th>Configuration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
              US-only sweepstakes<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow United States only<\/td><\/tr>
              US sweepstakes excluding void states<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow United States, then uncheck void states (e.g., New York, Florida)<\/td><\/tr>
              Worldwide except restricted countries<\/strong><\/td>Block<\/td>Block countries with strict contest laws (e.g., Belgium, Italy)<\/td><\/tr>
              Canada excluding Quebec<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow Canada, then uncheck Quebec in the province list<\/td><\/tr>
              UK product launch<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow United Kingdom only<\/td><\/tr>
              Physical prize shipping<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow only countries you can affordably ship to<\/td><\/tr>
              Service availability<\/strong><\/td>Allow<\/td>Allow only countries where your service operates<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              Legal Considerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Some countries and regions have strict laws regarding giveaways and sweepstakes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Quebec, Canada<\/strong> – Requires registration and fees for contests over certain values. You can now exclude Quebec specifically using state-level targeting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Belgium<\/strong> – Has restrictions on promotional contests<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Italy<\/strong> – Requires government notification for certain promotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Brazil<\/strong> – Requires authorization from SECAP for sweepstakes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Certain US states<\/strong> – Some states (e.g., New York, Florida, Rhode Island) have additional registration or bonding requirements for high-value sweepstakes. You can exclude specific states using state-level targeting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Note:<\/strong> Always consult with a legal professional to ensure your giveaway complies with local laws in your target regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Combining with Other Security Settings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Geo-targeting works best when combined with other security features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Setting<\/th>Why Combine<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
                Block VPNs<\/strong><\/td>Prevents users from bypassing geo-restrictions with a VPN<\/td><\/tr>
                Anti-spam settings<\/strong><\/td>Adds device fingerprinting on top of location checks<\/td><\/tr>
                Email verification<\/strong><\/td>Adds an extra layer of identity verification<\/td><\/tr>
                Block disposable emails<\/strong><\/td>Prevents temporary email abuse from any location<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • Clearly state eligibility<\/strong> – Mention country and state restrictions in your giveaway rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Use Block mode for few exclusions<\/strong> – If you only need to exclude 1-2 countries, Block mode is simpler than listing every allowed country<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Test from restricted regions<\/strong> – Use a VPN to verify the blocking message appears correctly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Consider your audience<\/strong> – Only restrict if legally or logistically necessary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Enable Block VPNs<\/strong> – For stronger enforcement, enable VPN blocking alongside geo-targeting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Use state-level targeting for compliance<\/strong> – Exclude specific states like Quebec or New York instead of blocking the entire country<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Troubleshooting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                  Users from allowed locations being blocked<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • The user may be using a VPN that shows a different location<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Their ISP may route traffic through a server in a different country<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • For state-level restrictions, the region detection may occasionally be inaccurate. Consider allowing the entire country if state-level accuracy is a concern.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    Users from restricted locations getting through<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • They may be using a VPN to appear from an allowed location. Enable Block VPNs<\/strong> to mitigate this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Server-side enforcement catches most bypass attempts, but VPN traffic can still mask the true location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Plan Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                      Geo-targeting is available on Premium<\/strong> and Enterprise<\/strong> plans. On lower plans, the geo-targeting option will show a “Premium” badge indicating an upgrade is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      • Geo-targeting is enforced both when the widget loads and on the server when a user logs in or submits an entry<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Users with VPNs may bypass geographic restrictions. Combine with VPN blocking for best results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • You can change geo-targeting settings at any time, even after the giveaway starts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • State\/province targeting is available for 7 countries (US, CA, UK, AU, BR, IN, DE). For all other countries, targeting is at the country level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • If a user’s state cannot be determined, the system will still enforce the country-level restriction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                        Geo-targeting lets you control which countries (and even states\/provinces) can enter your giveaway. You can either allow only specific locations or block specific locations from entering. This is essential for legal compliance, shipping limitations, or region-specific promotions. Why Use Geo-Targeting How to Set Up Geo-Targeting Step 1: Go to Security Settings Step 2: Enable Geo-Targeting Check the box labeled “Enable geo-targeting”. Step 3: Choose Allow or Block Mode Select one of the two modes: Mode Use Case Only allow You know exactly which countries should be eligible (e.g., US-only sweepstakes) Block You want to run a worldwide giveaway but need to exclude specific countries for legal reasons Step 4: Select Countries Use the search field to find and select countries: You can add as many countries as you need. The full list includes all 249 internationally recognized countries and territories. Step 5: Select States\/Provinces (Optional) For supported countries, you can restrict entries down to the state or province level. When you select one of the following countries, a state\/province section automatically appears below with checkboxes: Country Regions Available United States 50 states + District of Columbia Canada 13 provinces and territories United Kingdom 4 nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) Australia 8 states and territories Brazil 27 states India 36 states and union territories Germany 16 federal states By default, all states\/provinces are selected when you add a supported country. To restrict to specific states: For countries not in the list above, geo-targeting works at the country level only. Step 6: Save Your Changes Click Save & Publish to apply the geo-targeting restrictions. What Blocked Users See When someone from a restricted location visits your giveaway, they see the message: “This location is not allowed to enter.” The giveaway details (title, description, countdown, prize info) are still visible, but the entry form and entry methods are hidden. How Geo-Targeting Works Aspect Details Detection method IP-based geolocation via Cloudflare Country accuracy Highly accurate at the country level State\/province accuracy Generally accurate, but may vary in some regions Enforcement Both client-side (widget) and server-side (login and entry submission) VPN users May appear from a different location. Combine with “Block VPNs” for stronger enforcement. SweepWidget enforces geo-targeting at multiple points: For state-level restrictions, if the visitor’s state cannot be determined, the system falls back to country-level enforcement only. This means the country restriction is always enforced, but state-level checks are skipped if region data is unavailable. Common Country Combinations Region Countries North America United States, Canada, Mexico English-speaking United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland European Union Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland (and others) Scandinavia Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland DACH region Germany, Austria, Switzerland Latin America Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru Asia Pacific Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore Use Cases Scenario Mode Configuration US-only sweepstakes Allow Allow United States only US sweepstakes excluding void states Allow Allow United States, then uncheck void states (e.g., New York, Florida) Worldwide except restricted countries Block Block countries with strict contest laws (e.g., Belgium, Italy) Canada excluding Quebec Allow Allow Canada, then uncheck Quebec in the province list UK product launch Allow Allow United Kingdom only Physical prize shipping Allow Allow only countries you can affordably ship to Service availability Allow Allow only countries where your service operates Legal Considerations Some countries and regions have strict laws regarding giveaways and sweepstakes: Note: Always consult with a legal professional to ensure your giveaway complies with local laws in your target regions. Combining with Other Security Settings Geo-targeting works best when combined with other security features: Setting Why Combine Block VPNs Prevents users from bypassing geo-restrictions with a VPN Anti-spam settings Adds device fingerprinting on top of location checks Email verification Adds an extra layer of identity verification Block disposable emails Prevents temporary email abuse from any location Best Practices Troubleshooting Users from allowed locations being blocked Users from restricted locations getting through Plan Requirements Geo-targeting is available on Premium and Enterprise plans. On lower plans, the geo-targeting option will show a “Premium” badge indicating an upgrade is needed. Notes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to"],"yoast_head":"\nSweepWidget Geo-targeting: Restrict Users By Country<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With SweepWidget geo-targeting, you can restrict users based on the country they are located in (ip address detection is used).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sweepwidget.com\/docs\/geo-targeting-restrict-users-by-country\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SweepWidget Geo-targeting: Restrict Users By Country\" \/>\n<meta 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