Random Winner Picker: Fair and Transparent Contest Draw
This tool picks winners from any list using cryptographic randomness and the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm. Your entry list never leaves your browser and nothing is stored anywhere.
How to Use This Tool
- Paste your entry list into the text area, one entry per line.
- Choose a duplicate handling mode based on your contest rules.
- Set how many times one entry can win and how many total winners you need.
- Click “Pick Winners.” Winners appear in the result table, blurred by default.
- Reveal winners one by one or all at once using the blur toggle.
- Download the result as a text file or CSV.
Entry Validation: What the Tool Accepts
The tool checks your list automatically before picking winners.
Empty lines are removed. Lines made of only symbols, such as .... or .-/#, are also removed. A line like abcd or .abcd# is valid because it contains at least one letter or number.
Extra spaces and tabs are trimmed. All text is converted to lowercase. This means John and john count as the same entry.
Three Draw Modes Explained
Your contest rules decide which mode to use.
Remove duplicates
Each unique name counts as one entry, no matter how many times it appears in the list. If someone enters three times, they still get one chance to win.
Use this when every participant should have an equal chance.
Group duplicates
Multiple entries from the same person are kept. Each person can win up to the limit you set in “Max wins per entry.”
Use this when repeated entries earn more chances, but one person should not take all the prizes.
Count every entry
Every line in your list is a separate ticket. If someone appears five times, they have five chances. No deduplication happens.
Use this when you want entries to stack with full weight.
Live Draw Features
This tool is built for draws in front of an audience.
Winner results appear at 50% blur by default. You control when each winner is revealed. Unblur them one at a time to build suspense, or reveal all at once when the draw is done.
The result table can be sorted in ascending or descending order. Ascending order shows winner number 1 at the top. Descending order shows the last winner at the top and reveals number 1 at the end. This is useful when you want to build up to the first-place winner as the final reveal in a live draw.
You can also blur the input area during the draw. This keeps the full entry list hidden from viewers while the draw is live.
Each result row shows the winner’s name and the line number from your original input. A toggle in the result table switches between the processed version the tool used and the original version you pasted. Both details help your audience verify the draw was fair.
Result Tracking and Downloads
The result table shows each winner with their original line number. This makes it easy to cross-check against your entry list after the draw.
You can download the full result as a plain text file or a CSV file. Both include winner names and line numbers.
Privacy: How This Tool Works
No entry list or result is uploaded anywhere. The tool runs entirely in your browser using your device’s memory.
Nothing is stored, shared, or sent to any server. Close the tab and every entry is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this draw tool truly fair?
Yes. The tool uses cryptographic randomness and the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm. Both are designed to produce unpredictable, unbiased results.
What is the difference between the three draw modes?
Remove duplicates gives every unique name one equal chance. Group duplicates keeps multiple entries but limits how many times one person can win. Count every entry treats each line as a separate ticket with full weight.
Can I use this for a live draw in front of an audience?
Yes. Results appear blurred by default. You can reveal winners one at a time or all at once. You can also blur the input area to keep your entry list hidden during the draw.
Can I verify which version of the list was used for the draw?
Yes. The result table shows each winner’s line number from your original input. A toggle lets you switch between the processed list and the original list you pasted.
Can I control the order in which winners are revealed?
Yes. The result table can be sorted from first to last or from last to first. Sorting in descending order lets you reveal the top winner at the very end, which works well for live draws where the first place is the final announcement.
Does this tool upload my entry list to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.