# Sweepstakes has different rules for Canucks? Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822 "2003-01-25T04:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/1 "2003-01-25T04:57:47Z")
Today, for no particular reason, I found myself reading the fine print of a sweepstakes entry form. Way down at the bottom, in bold, was the following: > [@](#): > > In order to receive a prize, a Canadian prize claimant will be contacted by the judging organization and must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question without mechanical or other assistance of any kind within a time limit. Whereupon I thought, naturally, “What the hey?” What do the organizers have against Canadians? Is this to satisfy some kind of formality? Has anyone come across anything like this? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/2 "2003-01-25T05:06:58Z")
A US-based sweepstakes open to residents of the USA and Canada must follow each country’s laws. The same applies to a Canadian-based sweepstakes open to residents of the USA and Canada, too. The laws of each country regarding sweepstakes and games of chance are not the same. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/3 "2003-01-25T06:07:53Z")
In order to avoid Canadian gambling laws, one must complete a “skill test” to win the prize. It’s usually something like “You have 30 seconds to tell us what 5 times 3 is.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/4 "2003-01-25T08:53:12Z")
Canadian lotteries that don’t require the so-called skill-testing question (i.e. lottery tickets and casino games) are monopolized or heavily regulated by the various provincial governments. Anyone who wishes to run a private contest or raffle is obliged to distinguish their system by adding the question. I don’t understand the justification, myself. I despise government regulations that force people to engage in meaningless rituals. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/5 "2003-01-25T08:53:31Z")
What **SenorBeef** said. Canada’s sweepstakes laws don’t allow pure games of chance, so they add a stupid question to make it a game of skill. ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/6 "2003-01-25T19:22:53Z")
I am enlightened. Thanks, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/7 "2003-01-25T20:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \* > \*\*In order to avoid Canadian gambling laws, one must complete a “skill test” to win the prize. It’s usually something like “You have 30 seconds to tell us what 5 times 3 is.” \*\* Never seen one with a time limit. Usually just something like 10\*3/2-5+1 ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweepstakes-has-different-rules-for-canucks-huh/150822/8 "2003-01-25T22:30:09Z")
Time limits are not uncommon for contests where the winner will be contacted by the organizers. In those cases, the qualification is usually stated: “Contestants must answer a time-limited skill-testing question…”