By 2010, the company had reached settlements with all 50 states, and in 2023 the Federal Trade Commission ordered PCH to overhaul its sweepstakes processes. Their sweepstakes has been subject of legal actions regarding whether consumers were misled about the odds of winning, and whether purchases increased their chances. Since 2020, they have owned the Wide Open Media publications Wide Open Spaces about outdoors lifestyle, Wide Open Country about country music, and FanBuzz about sports. They are most widely known for their sweepstakes and prize-based games which were introduced in 1967. It was originally founded as an alternative to door-to-door magazine subscription sales by offering bulk mail direct marketing of merchandise and periodicals.
Publishers Clearing House ( PCH) is an American company founded in 1953 by Harold Mertz.
