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How to run a giveaway in MAX

October 27, 2026 · Command CHBT · MAX, Giveaways

MAX has no built-in giveaways like Telegram: a channel giveaway is run through a bot. But before the start you need to do something other messengers don’t require — get the contest approved by the platform itself. Step by step below.

How a giveaway in MAX differs from Telegram

No built-in feature. In Telegram a channel can give away Premium or Stars on its own; in MAX a giveaway is run only through a bot.
Approval is required. Contests in MAX bots are allowed after separate approval by the company (clause 5.1 of the Requirements for applications).
The bot belongs to an organization. Legal entities, sole proprietors and self-employed people can create a bot on the MAX for Business platform, and the organization profile is verified. For participants this is rather a plus: it’s clear who runs the giveaway.
A limit on mailings. Mass advertising mailings through a MAX bot API are allowed only if provided for by an agreement with MAX (clause 1.5).
Less competition. There are still noticeably fewer giveaway bots in MAX than in Telegram, so a giveaway here doesn’t get lost among dozens of similar ones.

Step 1. Get the contest approved by MAX

The MAX Requirements for developer applications (clause 5.1) allow contests, promotional events and promotions in applications only after separate approval by the company. Under the MAX rules chatbots are applications too. The bot running the giveaway belongs to you, so you get the approval: contact MAX for Business platform support in advance, before publishing the post.

One more MAX rule (clause 1.5): mass advertising mailings through the bot API are not allowed unless the contract with MAX provides for them. A message to the winner and replies to participants aren’t a mailing; but “a promotion for all participants” through a MAX bot without a contract is better avoided.

Step 2. Bot and channel

Create a bot on the MAX for Business platform — available to companies, sole proprietors and self-employed people; the profile is verified and the bot is moderated. More in the article how to create a bot in MAX. Then make the bot a channel admin: otherwise MAX won’t show the bot the subscribers, and it can’t check subscriptions.

Step 3. Rules and the post

Rules come before the start: organizer, dates, who takes part and how (free, channel subscription), prizes by place, how the winner is picked, when the results are and how the prize is handed over. The post has a short version and a link to the full rules. The “Join” button leads to the bot via a link with the giveaway label. What must be stated and why entry must be free — in the article on giveaway rules.

The “Join” button and the post

The button in the post leads to the bot via a link with the giveaway tag — that’s how the bot knows which giveaway the person is joining. Everything else happens in a private conversation with the bot: the subscription check, the “not a bot” question, the participant number, and after the results — a message to the winner.

You can publish a post with the button in a channel where the bot is an admin. Before publishing, tap the button yourself: the bot should reply with a participant number or ask you to subscribe. This checks both the link and the subscription check at once.

In the post, state the prize, the conditions, the results date, the organizer and a link to the full rules. Don’t promise “we’ll message every participant” — see the mailing limit above.

Step 4. Subscription check and bot protection

The bot checks the subscription on entry and again at the draw — those who unsubscribed won’t get a prize. If MAX doesn’t answer, it’s fairer to ask the person to try again in a minute than to treat them as unsubscribed. A simple “not a bot” check — a sum with answer buttons — and flags on suspicious entries help against fake participants: a spike of entries within a minute, an entry an hour before the draw.

Step 5. Results and handover

Pick winners in a way that can be re-checked: the hash of a secret number before the start, a public list of participants once entries close, and the number itself at the draw — more in the article how to pick a winner fairly. Message the winner privately and give a reply deadline; no reply — the prize goes to the next person in reserve. Publish the name in the results only with the winner’s separate consent.

After the results

The message to the winner and replies to their questions are a private conversation. The winner answers the questions needed to hand over the prize and separately decides whether their name can be published. If they don’t respond in time, the prize goes to the next participant from the reserve.

In MAX it’s safer to thank the other participants in the channel itself rather than in private messages: a consolation promo code sent to every participant is already an advertising mailing, and without an agreement with MAX it’s better not to send it.

Pre-launch checklist

The contest is approved by MAX, and the support reply is saved.
The bot is created on the MAX for Business platform and connected, and it is a channel admin.
The rules are published, and the post links to them.
The prize, number of winners and reserve are set, and prize values are stated.
The winner’s response deadline is written into the rules.
The “Join” button is tested: the bot replies with a number or asks to subscribe.
You’ve decided how to thank participants after the results without a mass mailing.

Common mistakes in MAX

Launching a giveaway without approval from MAX.
Not making the bot a channel admin: then the subscription can’t be checked, and participants see “couldn’t check your subscription”.
Sending ads to all participants through the bot without an agreement with MAX.
Not testing the “Join” button before publishing.
Not stating the winner’s response deadline in the rules and what happens if they don’t respond.
Making participation paid in any form — a fee, a “ticket”, a donation. That is a sign of a lottery, and private organizers aren’t allowed to run lotteries.

How to do it in CHBT

CHBT connects the bot via the MAX for Business platform API. In the “Giveaways” section the bot checks the MAX channel subscription, issues numbers, runs the draw with a public record, messages the winner and tracks the prize handover as a CRM deal. A giveaway with a MAX bot won’t start until you confirm you have MAX’s approval for the contest. More on the MAX giveaway bot page.

FAQ

Do I need approval for every giveaway? The MAX Requirements mention separate approval of contests but don’t specify whether it’s needed for each giveaway. Ask MAX for Business platform support when you first contact them.

Can a self-employed person run a giveaway in MAX? A self-employed person can create a bot on the MAX for Business platform. The other conditions are the same: approval, rules, free participation.

Can I check a subscription to someone else’s MAX channel? Yes, if the channel owner adds your bot as an admin — otherwise MAX won’t show the bot the subscribers.

Can one giveaway run in MAX and Telegram at once? In CHBT — yes: one giveaway accepts participants from Telegram, MAX and VKontakte bots, and each participant confirms a subscription to the channel on their own platform.

How much does it cost in CHBT? One giveaway — on the Free plan with a limit of 30 conversations per month. Without the limit, with prize handover in the CRM and friend invites — Basic, 650 ₽ per bot per month.

MAX giveaway bot How to create a bot in MAX How to pick a winner fairly Giveaway rules and prize tax