About Heartland Institute

The Heartland Institute is one of the world’s leading free-market think tanks. It is a national nonprofit research and education organization based in Schaumburg, Illinois. Its mission since its founding in 1984 is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

We are an “action tank” as well as a “think tank,” and we measure our success by the impact we have in the real world. The Heartland Institute plays an essential role in the national (and increasingly in the international) movement for personal liberty and limited government. We are the pipeline between the freedom movement’s leading writers and thinkers and the nation’s 7,000-plus national and state elected officials.

To discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

The essentials

1. Eligibility

Participants must be 21 years of age or older. Employees of The Heartland Institute and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Participation is void where prohibited by law. By purchasing a ticket, you confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and agree to these rules.

2. Ticket Purchase

Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. All tickets must be assigned to a specific card from the remaining cards in the 54-card deck (including two jokers) at the time of purchase. Purchases may be made online. Each ticket is tied to the purchaser’s registered name, phone number, and unique personal number for verification purposes. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable except as required by law.

3. Weekly Drawing

One winning ticket is drawn at random each week from all valid tickets sold for that drawing period. The card assigned to the winning ticket is revealed and locked on the public digital board. If the revealed card is not the Queen of Hearts, the jackpot rolls over and continues to grow with subsequent ticket sales. Drawings will be conducted at a regularly scheduled time and may be featured on The Heartland Institute’s Climate Realism Show. All draws are final once completed.

4. Jackpot and Payout

The jackpot grows with ticket sales until the Queen of Hearts is drawn. Upon the Queen of Hearts being revealed, the winner of that ticket receives 50% of the total pot. The remaining 50% is allocated as follows: 40% to The Heartland Institute and 10% to seed the next game. The organization reserves the right to publish the current jackpot amount. The winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes. The Heartland Institute will report the prize as required by law.

5. Winner Notification and Claim

The winner will be notified using the contact information provided at registration. The winner must respond and complete any required claim forms and tax documentation within the timeframe specified in the notification. Failure to respond or provide required information may result in forfeiture of the prize, at which point the organization may conduct an alternate draw or allocate the prize according to these rules. Prize checks or payments will be issued only after verification of identity and eligibility.

6. Public Board and Transparency

A live digital card board will display all revealed cards in the order drawn. The current jackpot total and remaining cards will be updated regularly. Official results of each weekly drawing will be posted on the event page.

7. Verified Identity

All tickets purchased by an individual must be registered under that individual’s verified identity. The Heartland Institute reserves the right to verify identity and purchase history at any time.

8. Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from this raffle shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its rules. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding.

9. General

The Heartland Institute reserves the right to modify these rules, suspend, or cancel the raffle if required by law, licensing authorities, or unforeseen circumstances that make continuation impractical. Any changes will be posted on the event page. Odds of winning depend on the number of tickets sold and the number of remaining cards. This raffle is conducted under applicable Illinois nonprofit raffle regulations. Full compliance with all licensing requirements is maintained by The Heartland Institute.

10. Contact

Questions regarding these rules or the raffle may be directed to The Heartland Institute through the contact information provided on the event page.