What does "No Purchase Necessary to Win" on product based games exactly mean?

Question

What does "No Purchase Necessary to Win" on product based games exactly mean?

Answer 1

It is against the law for a company or business to require that a  purchase be made in order to enter or win a drawing.

The "No Purchase Necessary to Win" disclaimer is just showing their compliance to the law. It is a legal requirement.

Any drawing that requires a purchase to enter is illegal.

Answer 2

They want you to buy something. They believe that if you believe that line you will be a puish over.

Answer 3

You can jion for free and win just as if you were a buying customer

Answer 4

It's not necesarily legal to hold a contest that requires people to buy something in order to win.

Usually that disclaimer means that there is another way you can take part in the contest. For example if a "game piece" comes with the product when you buy it, you would be able to call the company and request that they send you a game piece.

Obviously they want you to buy something, so the info of how to play without buying will be well hidden in the fine print.