# Why Quebec gets stiffed... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468 "2000-07-13T19:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/76d3ee/32.png) [@lask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lask)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/1 "2000-07-13T19:22:49Z")
Why is it that every time there is a sweepstakes or a contest of some sort, Quebec residents aren’t allowed to enter? Is it a language issue? Nobody wants to translate the rules into French? Tax issues? Does Loto-Quebec have some sort of monopoly in this domain? I’ve always been a little miffed that I wasn’t allowed to participate… ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/2 "2000-07-13T19:35:42Z")
They are too good for the prizes? (ducks and runs) ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/3 "2000-07-13T20:39:45Z")
Aren’t there laws preventing games of chance? Quebeckers have to answer a complex question in addition to entering the contest so that it qualifies as a game of skill, instead of chance. I don’t know though, I’m just an American. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ookpik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@ookpik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ookpik)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/4 "2000-07-13T20:45:59Z")
I’ve often wondered about this myself. It could have something to do with the fact that a winner must answer “skill-testing” questions in order to claim a prize. On the other hand, it might just be that conforming with Bill 101 and translating all the rules, associated documentation and producing tickets in French is just too much of a pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/5 "2000-07-13T20:50:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Montfort \* > \*\*Aren’t there laws preventing games of chance? Quebeckers have to answer a complex question in addition to entering the contest so that it qualifies as a game of skill, instead of chance. > > I don’t know though, I’m just an American. 😛 \*\* I don’t think so. On my honeymoon in Montreal, I spent a night at a casino. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/6 "2000-07-13T21:22:31Z")
This is a WAG. Could it be that, for the sweepstakes to be valid, the information (and contest rules) would have to be translated into french, and some companies don’t want to bother? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/7 "2000-07-13T21:27:58Z")
I believe **Montfort** had the right answer. Quebec demands some sort of skill test. Some sweepstakes would get around this with questions like: “What is the capital of the United States?” or some easy math question. I don’t know if Quebec has cracked down on this or if the companies sponsoring the contests want to bother with this extra step. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/8 "2000-07-13T21:45:27Z")
Doesn’t the skill test apply to all Canadian residents? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-quebec-gets-stiffed/25468/9 "2000-07-13T22:47:29Z")
Sweepstakes in Canada always have to have a stupid skill-testing question. Dunno why.