what, no fabulous prizes?
January 13, 2010 3:18 PM Subscribe
Why is participation in the XBox live 1 vs 100 challenge void in Connecticut?
I've tried perusing the CT state gambling laws, but I can't quite figure it out (and to be honest I'm not good at parsing legalese). The XBox rules seem to imply that even playing the game is somehow illegal, even if we don't care about the prizes. Any ideas?
I've tried perusing the CT state gambling laws, but I can't quite figure it out (and to be honest I'm not good at parsing legalese). The XBox rules seem to imply that even playing the game is somehow illegal, even if we don't care about the prizes. Any ideas?
The specific law is Connecticut Gen. Statute 42-298
Sec. 42-298. Games of skill. Restriction on advertisement. No person shall advertise a game of skill where a prize with a fair market value of over two hundred dollars is awarded to a winner if participants are required to pay an entry or judging fee or are solicited to purchase a good or service designed to assist the participant in winning the game of skill provided the participant may be required to purchase a consumer product or service if the game of skill is designed primarily to promote such product or service.
posted by exogenous at 3:31 PM on January 13, 2010
Sec. 42-298. Games of skill. Restriction on advertisement. No person shall advertise a game of skill where a prize with a fair market value of over two hundred dollars is awarded to a winner if participants are required to pay an entry or judging fee or are solicited to purchase a good or service designed to assist the participant in winning the game of skill provided the participant may be required to purchase a consumer product or service if the game of skill is designed primarily to promote such product or service.
posted by exogenous at 3:31 PM on January 13, 2010
No person shall advertise a game of skill where a prize with a fair market value of over two hundred dollars is awarded to a winner
I don't understand this part. I thought you could only win Microsoft points in 1 v. 100, and certainly not going above $200. Or am I misreading this? Obviously, IANAL.
posted by InsanePenguin at 3:58 PM on January 13, 2010
I don't understand this part. I thought you could only win Microsoft points in 1 v. 100, and certainly not going above $200. Or am I misreading this? Obviously, IANAL.
posted by InsanePenguin at 3:58 PM on January 13, 2010
It does seem like the maximum prize has a retail value of $125 per the rules page, but Microsoft's lawyers may not particularly care about the contest-specific details like that.
posted by smackfu at 4:44 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by smackfu at 4:44 PM on January 13, 2010
Every correct answer also earns you an entry into a sweepstakes for... some prize. Last season it was a laptop, which would exceed the $200 value.
posted by Benjy at 5:18 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by Benjy at 5:18 PM on January 13, 2010
Well, shit.
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:41 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:41 PM on January 13, 2010
Every correct answer also earns you an entry into a sweepstakes for... some prize. Last season it was a laptop, which would exceed the $200 value.
True, and this time it's a $3000 TV for the grand prize, but that's a typical "no purchase required" contest and is open to all states.
posted by smackfu at 5:54 PM on January 13, 2010
True, and this time it's a $3000 TV for the grand prize, but that's a typical "no purchase required" contest and is open to all states.
posted by smackfu at 5:54 PM on January 13, 2010
Response by poster: The most you can win in points in 10,000, which I think winds up at $125 cash value, and the games they give away are arcade games as far as I can tell, so maybe add on another $5-20, which brings you at most to $150. I guess the MS lawyers could be erring on the side of caution, considering our AG takes on all comers. BTW the sweepstakes is open to all 50 states, as per the rules.
posted by kittyloop at 6:56 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by kittyloop at 6:56 PM on January 13, 2010
if participants are required to pay an entry or judging fee or are solicited to purchase a good or service
You need to have Xbox Live Gold membership to play 1 vs 100 - maybe that's the problem?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:55 AM on January 14, 2010
You need to have Xbox Live Gold membership to play 1 vs 100 - maybe that's the problem?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:55 AM on January 14, 2010
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posted by exogenous at 3:28 PM on January 13, 2010