How to Run a Twitch Giveaway with a Spinner Wheel (Step-by-Step)

Giveaways are one of the most effective ways to boost engagement on your Twitch stream. When viewers know they have a chance to win something, they're more likely to participate in chat, stick around longer, and even bring friends to your channel. But here's the thing: running a fair and transparent giveaway is crucial for building trust with your community.

A visible spinner wheel makes the selection process completely transparent, adding excitement and fairness to your giveaways. In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn exactly how to set up a name wheel in OBS, collect viewer names properly, run the draw live on stream, and stay compliant with Twitch's Terms of Service. Let's get your first giveaway rolling.

OBS Browser Source Integration

The first step to running a smooth Twitch giveaway is integrating a spinner wheel directly into your stream layout using OBS Studio (or Streamlabs OBS). This allows your viewers to see the entire drawing process in real-time, which builds trust and creates exciting moments during your broadcast.

Here's how to add NameWheels to your stream:

1. Open OBS Studio (or Streamlabs OBS) and navigate to the scene where you want the wheel to appear.
2. In the Sources panel, click the + button and select Browser Source.
3. Give your source a name like "Giveaway Wheel" and click OK.
4. In the properties window, enter the URL: https://namewheels.com/wheels/gaming
5. Set the Width to 1920 and Height to 1080 (or match your stream resolution).
6. Check the box for "Shutdown source when not visible" to save system resources when you're not running giveaways.
7. Click OK to add the source to your scene.

Once added, you can position and resize the wheel to fit your stream layout. Simply click and drag to move it, or drag the corners to resize. Many streamers place the wheel in the center of the screen during giveaways, then move it to a corner or hide it entirely when not in use.

Here's a pro tip: When you need to interact with the wheel (add names, spin, etc.), right-click the browser source in OBS and select Interact. This opens an interactive window where you can control the wheel without switching away from OBS. You can add names, customize colors, and trigger spins all from this interact window while your stream continues running smoothly.

For the best performance, make sure "Refresh browser when scene becomes active" is unchecked in the browser source properties. This prevents the wheel from reloading every time you switch scenes, which would erase your entered names.

Collecting Viewer Names

The next critical step is collecting the names of viewers who want to enter your giveaway. How you do this depends on your stream size, technical comfort level, and how you want to structure your giveaway entries.

Manual Entry Method: For smaller streams or simple giveaways, the manual method works perfectly. As viewers type a specific command in chat (like "!enter" or "!giveaway"), you or a moderator can manually type their usernames into the wheel. This method gives you complete control and is very straightforward, though it can be time-consuming if you have dozens of participants.

Copy-Paste from Chat Logs: You can also pull up your chat logs in a separate window, copy usernames that meet your entry criteria, and paste them into the wheel. This is faster than typing each name individually and works well for moderate-sized giveaways. Just make sure you're only adding names that legitimately qualify for entry.

Third-Party Tools: Some streamers use third-party tools or bots that automatically collect usernames based on chat commands. While these can save time, be cautious about which tools you use. Always verify that any tool you integrate with your stream is from a trusted source, and be aware that NameWheels doesn't collect entries automatically—you're responsible for managing the entry list. We don't endorse specific third-party tools, so do your research before connecting anything to your Twitch account.

Regardless of which method you choose, transparency is key. Many successful streamers keep the name list visible to their viewers throughout the entry period. This shows everyone exactly who's entered and builds confidence that the drawing will be fair. You can show the wheel with all names visible on screen, or read names aloud as you add them.

Running the Draw Live

The moment of truth—spinning the wheel live on stream—is where all your preparation pays off. This is your chance to create an exciting, memorable moment that keeps viewers engaged and coming back for future giveaways.

Clear Communication: Before you spin, announce the giveaway clearly. State what the prize is, confirm that entries are closed, and make sure everyone knows you're about to draw the winner. This is also a good time to remind viewers of any rules or requirements.

Show the Name List: Display the complete list of names on the wheel before spinning. This crucial step proves to your audience that the drawing is legitimate and that everyone who entered is included. You can zoom in on the wheel or read a few names aloud to emphasize transparency.

Build Suspense: Don't rush to the spin! Build anticipation with a countdown: "Okay chat, we're spinning in 3... 2... 1..." This creates excitement in your stream and gives viewers a moment to focus on what's about to happen. Some streamers even play dramatic music or sound effects during the countdown.

Spin the Wheel Live: Click the spin button and let the wheel do its thing. The visual of the wheel spinning and gradually slowing down creates natural suspense. As it slows and approaches the final result, your chat will likely go wild with anticipation. Don't interrupt the spin or try to manipulate it—let it complete naturally.

Announce the Winner Clearly: Once the wheel stops, announce the winner's name clearly and enthusiastically. Congratulate them in chat, tag them if possible, and explain how they'll claim their prize. This moment of recognition makes the winner feel special and shows other viewers that your giveaways are real.

Multiple Winners: If you're giving away multiple prizes, use the "Remove & Spin" feature after each winner is selected. This removes the previous winner from the wheel and spins again for the next prize. It's the fairest way to ensure the same person doesn't win multiple times (unless you want to allow that—in which case, keep all names on the wheel).

Remember, the live draw is entertainment. Make it fun, keep the energy high, and let your personality shine through. Your viewers will remember the experience even if they don't win.

Twitch ToS Compliance for Giveaways

Running giveaways on Twitch comes with responsibilities. To protect yourself and stay in good standing with Twitch, you need to understand and follow their Terms of Service, as well as relevant laws in your jurisdiction.

Free Entry Requirement: One of the most important rules is that giveaways must offer a free method of entry. You cannot require viewers to purchase something, subscribe, or donate to enter. While you can encourage these actions, they cannot be mandatory for giveaway participation. Many streamers run "subscriber appreciation" giveaways where only subs are entered, but this can be a gray area depending on how it's structured and promoted.

Clear Rules and Eligibility: You must clearly communicate the rules of your giveaway before and during the entry period. Who can enter? What are the requirements? When does the entry period close? How will the winner be selected? Make these details available in your chat, on your panels, or spoken aloud during the stream. Ambiguity creates problems—clarity builds trust.

No Purchase Necessary: Even if you're giving away something related to subscriptions or bits, entry to the giveaway itself cannot require a purchase. For example, you can't say "Only people who donated $5 can enter." You can say "Everyone who's in chat can enter, and I really appreciate everyone who subscribes to support the channel."

Fulfillment Responsibility: You—the streamer—are responsible for fulfilling the prizes you promise. If you say you're giving away a game code, a piece of merch, or anything else, you must actually deliver it to the winner. Failure to fulfill prizes can damage your reputation, violate Twitch's policies, and potentially break consumer protection laws.

NameWheels' Role: It's important to understand that NameWheels is just a tool for random selection. We don't collect entries, verify eligibility, or manage your giveaway in any way. You're in complete control of who enters and how the giveaway is run. NameWheels simply provides the transparent, randomized selection mechanism.

Local Laws and High-Value Prizes: If you're giving away high-value items (generally anything worth more than $600 USD, though this varies by location), you may be subject to additional legal requirements like filing forms with government agencies, collecting tax information from winners, or providing official rules. These requirements vary significantly by country, state, and province, so consult local laws or a legal professional if you're running a major giveaway.

Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance, but you should consult Twitch's official Community Guidelines and Terms of Service for the most current requirements. Twitch policies can change, and their official documentation is the authoritative source. If you're unsure about whether your giveaway complies, reach out to Twitch support or consult with a lawyer familiar with sweepstakes law.

Bottom line: Keep it fair, keep it transparent, and follow the rules. Most streamers never have issues with giveaways because they run them honestly and communicate clearly with their communities.

Best Practices for Engagement

Running a compliant, fair giveaway is the foundation—but if you want to maximize engagement and create memorable moments, follow these best practices that successful streamers use.

Timing Matters: Run your giveaways during peak viewership hours for your channel. If your stream typically has the most viewers around 8 PM, that's when you should announce and run the drawing. More viewers means more excitement, more chat activity, and more energy around the event.

Hype It Up Beforehand: Don't surprise your audience with a giveaway (unless that's your style). Announce it in advance through social media, Discord, or at the start of your stream. This gives people a reason to show up and stick around. "We're doing a giveaway at 9 PM tonight" is a powerful retention tool.

Keep the Entry Window Reasonable: A 5-10 minute entry period works well for most streams. It's long enough that latecomers can participate, but short enough that people stay engaged waiting for the draw. If the entry period drags on too long, viewers lose interest and might leave before the spin happens.

Thank Everyone Who Participated: After announcing the winner, take a moment to thank everyone who entered and everyone watching. A simple "Thanks to everyone who participated, I appreciate you all being here" goes a long way. It makes people who didn't win feel valued and more likely to participate in future giveaways.

Share the Wheel URL: Drop the NameWheels link in chat (https://namewheels.com/wheels/gaming) so viewers can see it themselves. Some viewers appreciate being able to verify that the wheel is a real, unbiased tool. Transparency builds trust, and trust builds community.

Conclusion

Running a Twitch giveaway with a spinner wheel is straightforward when you follow these steps: integrate the wheel into OBS as a browser source, collect viewer names transparently, run the draw live on stream, and stay compliant with Twitch's Terms of Service. The combination of visual excitement and provable fairness makes spinner wheels the go-to choice for streamers who want to engage their communities authentically.

Now it's your turn. Set up your first giveaway using the steps in this guide, and watch how your chat reacts when that wheel starts spinning. You'll create memorable moments, build trust with your viewers, and make your stream a more exciting place to hang out. Ready to get started? Head over to the gaming giveaway wheel and give it a spin.