At the end of the instructions for a contest or sweepstakes, we always read or hear, “Void where prohibited”. What state or country has made it illegal for kids to win a trip to Disneyland? Is it because legally they equate the contest with gambling?
Jason G.First of all, JasonG, let me be the first person to say, Welcome to the SDMB.
Seocnd of all, “Void where prohibited” applies to U.S. colonies that may get American channels or products but they do not have the same laws. Puerto Rico would be an example of a place within American rule where a kid could not win a trip to disneyland.
I should no better, but whenever I hear that phrase, I always think of the definition of “void” that means “to urinate.”
That’s “know better.”
I thought the same thing, and thought about the time that my wife and I were stuck in Toronto traffic, both painfully holding back. When we finally got to an exit, it took us away from any possible public restrooms, and we ended up near an apartment building on the lake shore. We cut through the untended lot next to it and relieved ourselves.
So the next time you go swimming in Lake Ontario, think of us. :D:D:D:D
Sort of like those signs that say “WET FLOOR”.
Take my advice: Don’t do it. You’ll get in trouble.
That may be true, but I also see phrases such as “Not valid in Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho”, etc. So my guess is that there are indeed some strange rules from state to state…
And dejá AWB!
In addition to the reasons above, some states (notably Wisconsin here in the Midwest) have more stringent anti-gambling laws which forbid anyone to offer “a game of chance.”
Gambling generally has three components: prize, chance and consideration. “Chance” refers to whether you can do anything to affect your odds of winning – obviously you can’t in a prize drawing. “Consideration” is defined as giving something of value in order to play.
A lot of companies get around that by using the “no purchase necessary” line, but in some states the courts have held that even buying a stamp to send in the entry is “consideration.”
Yes even a stamp is a consideration in some states. That is why many contests allow you to call a toll free number JUST in certain states.
But it is not only states but counties that have laws.
For example some counties are DRY. No alcohol
Or Towns
I once worked in a town where you couldn’t serve ANY food on Sunday. In fact at midnigh we put a metal latch over a candy machine so that it couldn’t be sold. So if you won a contest that gave you the right to get a free candy from a machine IF you tried to get it in that town it would be VOID.
(that law has since been repealed)