Digital vs Paper Melbourne Cup Sweeps — What’s the Difference?
Paper sweeps have been around forever — pen, paper and a hat behind the bar or in the office kitchen. Digital sweeps are the newer way, where everything happens through a QR code or online link.
This guide doesn’t try to sell you on anything — it simply breaks down how both methods work, so you can decide which suits your sweep style.
Last Updated on October 9, 2025
How a Traditional Paper Sweep Works
Paper sweeps are straightforward:
Write names on a sheet, whiteboard or clipboard
Patrons or coworkers pay, then draw a horse name from a bowl
You write their horse down manually
All money is handed out after the race finished
Everything depends on keeping that sheet safe and readable
If you're not sure how to organise the draw, the How to Run a Sweep guide explains it clearly.
When Paper Sweeps Work Best
Paper is great when:
The sweep is small and social
Everyone is present in person
You don’t mind doing a bit of manual admin
The tradition and fun of drawing from a hat matters more than convenience
If you’re running one at work or with friends, paper still does the job perfectly.
The Drawbacks of Paper Sheets
Paper sweeps often end up with:
Lost or messy sheets
Payment disputes (“I already paid”)
Illegible names or forgotten entries
Confusion during payouts
Extra stress for whoever’s organising instead of enjoying it
If any of these sound familiar, the Keep Sweep Fair guide has small fixes you can apply even if you stick with paper.
What a Digital Sweep Actually Changes
Digital sweeps follow the exact same concept, but remove the paperwork:
Patrons scan a QR code to join
Names and payments track automatically
The draw happens in one click
Prize splits are calculated for you
Horses and results can even be shown on a TV screen or shared link
There’s no clipboard to protect, no handwriting, no “who got what horse?” moments.
When Digital Makes Sense
Going digital makes the most difference when:
You’re running a busy venue sweep
You have more than one sheet running
You want to avoid admin entirely
You want to display results easily without reading from paper
Venues using digital sweeps tend to start once they’ve run one too many chaotic paper sweeps.
Keeping the Tradition Without the Hassle
You don’t lose the tradition with digital — people still draw a horse randomly, still cheer for “their” horse, and still receive prize money.
It just happens with less paperwork and no lost sheets.
If you’re not sure yet, explore both sides. The Paper Sweep Templates Explained guide covers the manual method, while this page shows what changes digitally.
FAQs — Digital vs Paper Sweeps
Is a digital sweep still considered a sweep, or is it betting?
Digital sweep tools still follow sweep rules — no odds, no betting pool cut — just digital admin instead of paper.
Can venues use both paper and digital at the same time?
Yes. Some venues run a paper sweep for regulars and a digital sweep for bar traffic — both work side by side.
Do patrons still get assigned horses randomly in a digital sweep?
Yes — digital sweeps still do a random draw, just without the bowl and paper slips.
Do digital sweeps change how prize money works?
No — digital sweeps simply calculate and display prize splits automatically, but money still goes directly back to players just like a traditional sweep.
This guide is part of our Melbourne Cup Sweep knowledge base, covering setup, rules, prize payouts, templates and digital sweep tools.