Richard Haseltine - 13 October 2012 05:59 AM
Hmm?
Actually someone did try running a contest like that once and we had to block it - it’s a sweepstake, and those are absolutely verboten in Utah so we can’t allow them aside from any practical difficulties.
...such things used to be prohibited in Wisconsin as well when I was growing up. “Mail in” contests (like those found on cereal boxes back in the day) were also void even though they were administered in another state where it was legal. I remember seeing such offers with the word “void” printed in large letters across the coupon. Basically purchasing an item with such a coupon offer was considered laying down a wager.
Strangely, for some reason, the only contest that was allowed was the old Reader’s Digest sweepstakes which my mum always entered.
Even pinball wasn’t sacred as could only be awarded free balls, not free games, for high score as the latter was considered gambling and the state had very strict laws governing such activity. Admittedly this was great for establishing all time high scores as you started with five instead of three balls per play. As long as you could keep getting free balls, you could conceivably play all day on a single quarter (or when I was younger, a dime).
Then the legislature saw the cash cow that state run lotteries were, as well as a lot of potential revenue heading to neighbouring Illinois with residents of the two largest cities (Milwaukee and Madison) taking the one hour or so drive south to purchase tickets for a chance to win a million.
Now not only does Wisconsin have it’s own lottery but is also involved in the Powerball and I believe, Mega Millions national draws. There are also a number of casinos that have sprung up on native lands, one surprisingly, In the old Menominee Valley just west of Downtown Milwaukee.
...hmmm, hope my Megabucks ticket comes through for me tonight, account balance is pretty low and payday isn’t until Monday.
