The deadline belongs to the organizer's clock
A promotion that closes at 11:59 p.m. closes at that time in the zone named in the rules, not in yours. The zone may be written as ET, CT, AEST, AEDT or a city. If the rules do not name a zone, look for the location of the organizer, and treat the date as uncertain until you confirm it. Giveario shows the closing time with the organizer's zone and uses it to label promotions that end soon.
Daylight saving can move the offset
Many places change clocks in spring and autumn, and they do not all change on the same date. A promotion that runs across the change can open under one offset and close under another. Rules sometimes say a standard-time abbreviation such as EST or AEST when daylight time is actually in force on the closing date. When there is a conflict, ask the organizer or enter well before the deadline.
Southern and northern hemispheres
Seasons are reversed. Australia moves to daylight time around the start of October and returns to standard time in April, while the United States and Europe change around the end of October or early November. In the weeks around those dates, the gap between an Australian organizer and a European or North American reader changes by an hour.
Opening times and draws
Opening times matter too, especially for a first-come promotion or a daily entry that resets at midnight in the organizer's zone. A draw date such as the first working day after closing is also set in the organizer's zone. Winners are often contacted within a short window, so keep an eye on the email you used to enter.
A simple routine
Write the deadline down with its zone, convert it to your own time, and aim to enter a day early. If you are in a different country, check that your region is eligible. Our guide to reading giveaway rules explains where to find the dates and the territory.