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How exactly does this work? (Setting up a giveaway)

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ikki5

I am obviously new and I have an extra game that is sitting in my inventory, how exactly does this work? I am looking at the "New giveaway" thing and when a winner is selected, do I add them as a friend or a trade and then send it to them or what exactly happens?

I'd like to add I have never sent a gift through steam except through my friends.

9 years ago

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11 Comments
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9 years ago*
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Zomby
(Ultra Moderator)

You can either add the winner or send the gift via email. It's your choice really.

9 years ago
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ikki5

I am looking at the gifting options, it shows e-mail, could I not just do it that way as well? Or do they still need to be on my friends? I guess if I just add them to give the gift and then remove, no harm will be done. I am assuming it won't be a complicated thing.

Thanks for the replies :)

9 years ago
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UlverHausu

you can also send the game to their email, but the winner will be added to your friends list as soon as he activates the game

9 years ago
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Pattara

Option 1: Add friend and send the winner through Steam. Or send the gift through e-mail (No need to add them, the winner will be automatically add upon accepting the gift).
Option 2: Add your keys here and send them through Steamgift.

9 years ago
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This comment was deleted 6 years ago.

9 years ago
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ikki5

"Keep in mind there are some games you cant give away due to it being in a mass free giveaway for example free steam game key giveaways on indiegala that happen from time to time."

Yeah I will, I bought this game when it was on sale for a few pennies really for myself and a friend but he already had it so it will just sit in my inventory for now. lol

So it is not a key from a mass giveaway :P

9 years ago
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EvilBudgie

SG has no way of knowing where the game came from. If the game isn't on the list, then you can't gift it. For example, you can't gift Gun Monkeys, even if it's a steam gift and not a key. Here is the unnofficial list of games which you can't give away. Don't make the mistake of making a giveaway for another game. What is it that you are trying to gift, btw?

9 years ago
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ikki5

Oh, I bought Uncrowded a few days ago for my friend and he owned it so now it is just sitting in my inventory. It isn't on that list that you gave so I should be good. Now, I created the give away (will start inlike an hour or so) and when I typed the name, it came up with the game, if the game was banned, would that show or not? I just don't want to try and give away something is banned if I find I have a copy of it later.

9 years ago
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EvilBudgie

If it wasn't allowed, it would not have come up. Exception is, if the game has been given free just now and not yet added (just use common sense: if, for example, IG is giving away free keys, don't make a giveaway for it).

9 years ago
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Khalaq
(Senior Moderator)

As others have already said, you may "friend" a person on Steam and send it to your (temporary) friend via Steam. You may also send the gift to an email address using Steam. It is also possible to put the key into SteamGifts to be revealed at a later date, or just send a normal email to your winner with the gift and/or key.

  1. If you send the gift directly, the other person will receive it without a doubt. Steam will keep a record of your gift being sent and received.
  2. If you send the gift through Steam to an email address, Steam will hold the gift in your inventory until it is redeemed by the other person.
  3. If you do not use Steam, the other person may get the gift, or perhaps not. (Mistakes sometimes happen.) Or he may get it and lie to you about not receiving it. (Liars also sometimes happen.) This method is convenient, but also risky.

I like to use the first option. You may use whichever method you prefer.

9 years ago*
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