If you can't log-in or stay logged-in to OLS, and you're sure that you are using the correct username and password.
If it appears as though you are successfully logging-in after submitting your username and password, but you end up not being logged-in after the "Thank you for logging in..." message, your browser is probably not accepting cookies from online-sweepstakes.com which is necessary to log-in.

Web browsers, firewalls, pop-up blockers and other security/privacy-related programs will often block web sites from setting cookies in your browser, some do so by default. You will have to either change the settings so that all web sites are allowed to set cookies, or add online-sweepstakes.com to a specific list of web sites that are allowed to set cookies in your browser.

To specifically allow OLS to set cookies in Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options... and click on the Privacy tab. Click on the Sites... button and add online-sweepstakes.com to the box that says Address of Web Site: and then click the Allow button. Other browsers and programs that block cookies will have similar settings and options.


If you get a Database error or a blank page when loading a web page.
The problem is most likely on our end. Simply wait a minute and reload the web page. If the problem persists for more than 15 minutes or so, post a message about it in the Online-Sweepstakes.com forum or let us know about it through the contact form.


For all other problems and errors when trying to access OLS.
Make sure that javascript is enabled in your web browser. Many OLS features and functions won't work without it.

On the OLS web page with the error or problem, hold down the Ctrl key and then hit the F5 key on your keyboard. This will force your browser to do a hard reload/refresh of the page you're viewing. If the page didn't reload/refresh, you didn't do it right- click on the web page first to ensure the window has focus.

Clear or delete your Temporary Internet Files or Internet/Web Cache. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options... and click on the Delete Files... button. Other browsers will have a similar option.

Click here to retrieve a lost username or password. The email address with which you registered is required.

Click here to change the email address or password associated with your OLS membership account. You must be logged-in and your current password is required.

Changing your email address will require your account to be re-activated before you regain full access to all the features and benefits available to fully registered OLS members. To re-activate your account, simply click on the activation link in the activation email that automatically gets sent to your new email address. If you need to request a new activation email, see How can I get a new activation email? in this FAQ.

Click here to request a new activation email if you are unable to post in the forums, purchase a premium membership subscription, or otherwise unable to access certain features or sections of OLS because your account isn't activated. Your registered email address is required if you are not logged-in.

Normally, an activation email is automatically sent to your registered email address after 1) initial registration and 2) anytime you change the email address registered to your account. Until you complete your registration or email address change by clicking on the activation link in the activation email, you will not have full access to all the features and benefits available to fully registered OLS members.

The two most common reasons for OLS members not receiving email from OLS are:

1. The email bounces, meaning your email server rejected the email. This can happen for several reasons, the most common being the your mail box is full or the email account is no longer in use or doesn't exist at all.

2. The email gets caught in the spam filter of your email account.


Most spam filters gather all the email that's been flagged as "Spam" in its own folder. You should be able to look through that folder and find the OLS email. Once you find the email, there should also be an option to mark that email as "Not Spam." Once you do that, subsequent email from OLS should no longer be blocked by your spam filter.

Some spam filters are a little more complicated than that. Some won't let any email through to your inbox unless the sender first verifies that there's a real person sending you the email. The spam filter will send an automatic challenge email to the sender who must click on a link and sometimes fill out a form on a web page to "prove" they're a real person and not some automated program sending you spam.

The problem with such a system is most legitimate email that is in no way shape or form "spam," is sent through automated software. For example, OLS sends out more than 5,000 emails every single day, almost all of it automated through software. That's why OLS (like most other web sites) requests that you ensure that the email address with which you register will accept email from online-sweepstakes.com.

If you are not receiving expected email from OLS, please ensure that the email address you're using for your OLS account is 1) valid and 2) can accept email from online-sweepstakes.com.

If your spam filter is flagging OLS email as spam, you will need to either add online-sweepstakes.com to the "Allowed Senders" or "white" list, or remove online-sweepstakes.com from the "Blocked Senders" or "black" list. It depends on how your email account's spam filter works.

Click here to change the email address associated with your OLS account.

Requests for username changes are generally honored, particularly in cases of an email address or full name being used as a username. To request that your username be changed, send a private message (PM) to either kbsocial or Brent requesting the change. Please include a first and second choice in case your first choice is already taken.

The only affect of changing your username is that your username is changed. All information regarding your old username will be changed to reflect your new username, absolutely nothing else is affected. Remember, that once we change your username, you will only be able to login to OLS with the new username, your old username will no longer work.

Multiple or habitual username changes will not be allowed.

FYI - When we come across a username that's obviously an email address (or part of an email address), we'll very often go ahead and remove the email address part of the username. For example, trudy334@msn would be changed to trudy334 leaving just the username portion of the email address.