So you want to create public GAs, but you don't want bots and auto-join scripts to enter? Good. Just post a comment in this thread with a link to an invite-only giveaway. The idea is very simple and is really not different from many (most?) of the other threads in the forum, except that you don't need to invest much time or thought into it. Just post the link in a comment, and you're done :-)

A few additional guidelines:

  • Feel free to obfuscate the link to make it more difficult for bots/scripts to enter. This is completely optional and may not make much of a difference, because the forums are probably not as infested with bots and auto-join scripts as public giveaways (see example).
  • You may use itstoohard.com, sgtools.info or other sites as filters to the link, but do try to keep things easy (for humans) to enter.
  • Don't feel obligated to write anything to accompany the giveaway link. If you have stuff to share beyond just the link, you probably should create a dedicated thread for it. Needless to say, you can also write it here, but it's not required.
  • Cross-posting giveaways your posted in other threads is fine, as long as they are your giveaways.
  • If you want to add a dynamic signature showing the game name, giveaway end date and current number of entries, but without revealing the URL to bots, you can use this tool created by Reforced. It takes the signature created by SG and provides you with a new URL that hides the original giveaway address. Just add it to your comment using the regular format for posting images: ![](URL)
  • Just like public GAs typically have a lot of entries, there's no need to maintain a low number of entries in GAs posted here. If you want to give especially good odds to people who enter and still get CV, you may want to instead consider posting the link here (and then remove it when you have your 5 entries). This is not needed here in this thread. The more (humans) the merrier :-)
  • The best way to bump this thread is by posting a link to your own invite-only giveaway. With that said, if the thread drops from the first page a regular "Bump" would also be appreciated.

I'm trying to find how serious the issue with bots really is. So far the results don't really prove things one way or another. Here are some stats from my latest experiment:

Game: Space Trader: Merchant Marine
Number of giveaways: 5
Period: 3 days

Giveaway # Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
1 Level 0+ Public 891 0:82 No
2 Level 0+ Invite only, direct link 55 4:47 No
3 Level 0+ Invite only, SGTools (no restrictions) 48 6:71 No
4 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL, captcha-free 50 1:205 No
5 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL with "I'm not a robot" captcha 54 162:86 No

Yet some more stats:

Giveaway game Period Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Public 755 0:37 No
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 183 42:514 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Public 554 0:32 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 193 178:188 No
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Public 1596 0:28 Yes
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 234 88:107 No
7 years ago*

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just to see how it works Strafe

6 years ago
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Not very well if you post plain links

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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Meaning that if you are trying to avoid bots from entering that will not hinder them at all.

6 years ago
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oh, ok, I'll try sgtools someday then

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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What, 3 weeks registered and already BL me? 😺
Good job sheriff 😎

6 years ago
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bad Nera

6 years ago
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Any reason for a BL or just because? :D

6 years ago
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for inflicting trash games on the world mostly ^^

6 years ago
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Sure I gave away some trashgames, but considering most games end up as +1 anyway and don't get played no matter how good they are (if they are not the newest 1-2 months old AAA games - those games normally get played)... it doesn't really matter what is given away^^

When I checked a couple of weeks ago the stats from my july-humblebundle ~100cart-train just to see which games were played so far..

15games were idled
and 3 were actually played by the winners: Dungeons of Dredmore, KotOR and Bastion none of the other awesome games were even touched (which is pretty sad) :/

Ah anyway, thanks for giving your BL reason, I'm always curious why people hand out blacklists :)

6 years ago
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  • Minimum ratio using number of gifts Sent/Won on Steamgifts: 1
  • Your account must have activated all the won gifts
  • First part of the URL code is in the picture
  • Your account is not allowed to have won the same game multiple times.
  • Your account must never been VAC banned.
  • Custom rule: level >= 2 and trade_ban == false and community_ban == false

This Is the Police
Metrico+
GoNNER - Press Jump To Die Edition
Super Rude Bear Resurrection

View attached image.
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6 years ago
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I like the way you concealed/tweaked the links for these. I'll have to keep something like this in mind the next time I post an invite only GA. :D

6 years ago
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I'd like to join but i couldnt understand the links trick :)

6 years ago
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It is nothing hard.
But unfortunately for you, even if you manage to get the right link, you would not be able to enter because you are not passing the first rule (Minimum ratio using number of gifts Sent/Won on Steamgifts: 1).

6 years ago
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I still didn't know how to entry can u give some warm tips

6 years ago
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Hover over the image.

6 years ago
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thank you but code is 5 ,the image is 8😐

6 years ago
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It's the missing part of the SGTool link, not a direct code to the GA.

6 years ago
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thank you~ clever dude =w=

6 years ago
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Ingenius! I liled it, thanks for the gas!

6 years ago
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Pretty cool way to post the links :D

6 years ago
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beump

6 years ago
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Bump!

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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Bump

6 years ago
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👍

6 years ago
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oV6OuI5Dp

for the game void... Plus there is thread somewhere with some additions and suprisingly low numbers of entries this far... I wonder if I should add even more ;D

6 years ago
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View attached image.
6 years ago
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Bump!

6 years ago
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Nine characters...

6 years ago
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I tried some things, but none of them worked. I'm just really curious on how to solve(?) this now.

6 years ago
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I wonder what game is giving away... 🤔

6 years ago
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Just a 1$ bundle trash game, as stated.

6 years ago
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I know 😁🤫

6 years ago
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maybe remove some letters. Like for example those in the name of the game ;D

6 years ago
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I tried that. Hmmm...I'll try again. Must've missed something. Thanks <3

6 years ago
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Thats actually a cool way to mask it... :D

6 years ago
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THbAuNmKpS!

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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Thank you.

6 years ago
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Thanks :3

6 years ago
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l + (six + three) + Mercury + n = Dead Bits [level: 2+ | time: 13 h]

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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6 years ago
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WAyKFIyNF

The game is Akin... I think... Same trick as last time ;D

Also a thread is lurking somewhere, week to go! Might have some new things, or not ;D

6 years ago
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Thank you :)

6 years ago
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My Bones, Invasion of Barbarians, Last Tale and Pixel Puzzles 2: Birds
all level 2 & sgtools basic check
http://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/a4736742-e7c5-11e7-a65e-fa163ee2f826

GAs are over

6 years ago*
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Sakura Santa GA Ended.
I wish I had something else other than Sakura keys to give away, tbh.
Lv. 1, basic SGTools check.

Happy holidays!

6 years ago*
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I think during this festive time of year we should put our problems aside and invite the bots into our hearts and homes.
If My Heart Had Wings
01100001 01001100 01001001 01000100 01011010

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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bump

6 years ago
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Bump :)

6 years ago
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Bump :)

6 years ago
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No-bot bump!

6 years ago
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A few hours left, lvl 2+
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/Oar0w/luxor-3

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6 years ago
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Happy Cake Day, Carlica and have a good one! ^^

6 years ago
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I'm relatively new to SG and all, are bots really a jarring problem around here? Until recently I wasn't even aware they were an option (that should not exist) for entering contests. Is there a useful thread around here to read up on that kind of stuff?

6 years ago
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Thank you ^^

6 years ago
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welcome to steamgifts and Happy New Year 🌲🙌😖

6 years ago
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Thank you, everyone I met so far has been super nice and insightful! Hope it'll be a great new year for you as well <3

6 years ago
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Accidentally made a private giveaway instead of a public, about 1 hour left, lvl2. Please, at least 1 entry, I don't want to recreate it :D
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/vNUKL/field-breaking

6 years ago
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I tried to enter but I got a blacklisted message. Anyway, thank you :)

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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You say it like it's my fault that you have me on your blacklist man. Also, the giveaway ended more than two days ago. Have a nice day.

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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It's kind of special that you complain to me that you have me on your blacklist. How this move my life forward, that you tell me that because of yourself, you can't enter something? Just check that BL message. It will be that you cannot enter because you have me on blacklist ;)

6 years ago
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it's still your fault ^^

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6 years ago
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6 years ago
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When i make a mistake i have the backbone to stand to it.

you deleted all your comments here, that makes no sense... 🤔

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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No need to wait weeks for that, if you catch my drift.
Meet you at the Team Booster pack of yours! >:D

6 years ago
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Thank you for your "Train" :D

6 years ago
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Thank you!

6 years ago
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Thanks!

6 years ago
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beump

6 years ago
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