Where'd the raffles go?

[AndyR]

I always thought raffles were a great idea but now it seems like they have disappeared off the forum...

A monthly raffle could raise some money for the forum and offer a chance to win some expensive lasers most people couldn't afford. Having smaller 2nd and 3rd place prizes would also encourage more people to buy tickets. Other than finding a suitable person to buy all the lasers and test / send them out, it seems like a good idea to me... Is there some problem with this "raffle" idea, or is it just that no one has stepped up to the job of being the raffle coordinator?:thinking:

 

[Flaminpyro]

The raffel ended last week didn't you buy a ticket, O well no matter cuz I won the corvett :crackup:

I always thought raffles were a great idea but now it seems like they have disappeared off the forum...

A monthly raffle could raise some money for the forum and offer a chance to win some expensive lasers most people couldn't afford. Having smaller 2nd and 3rd place prizes would also encourage more people to buy tickets. Other than finding a suitable person to buy all the lasers and test / send them out, it seems like a good idea to me... Is there some problem with this "raffle" idea, or is it just that no one has stepped up to the job of being the raffle coordinator?:thinking:

 

[kevinmassey]

Apperantly they're illegal without some sort of license in the US. Atleast that's the idea I got after the last one had to be stopped.

 

[bloompyle]

Apperantly they're illegal without some sort of license in the US. Atleast that's the idea I got after the last one had to be stopped.

You need a license to let people win things? I'm sorry, but that's got to be the dumbest thing to need a license for...I guess it also has something to do with the lottery aspect of it. Darn...maybe somebody in Canada could host it, or in some place where you don't need a license, and where it's easy to get stuff here...

 

[Prototype]

Raffles are considered gambling by the U.S. Government, and therefore Avery/the person holding the raffle would need a gambling license to hold said raffle.

 

[AndyR]

What if people "donated" a small monetary sum to the forum, and every month a few lasers were given away to members who donated, larger amounts giving a higher probability. It legally wouldn't be a raffle... would it?

 

[Prototype]

Yes, as you're only entered in the running if you donate, and more chances are given if you donate more, it's still technically a raffle.

 

[lasersbee]

You need a license to let people win things? I'm sorry, but that's got to be the dumbest thing to need a license for...I guess it also has something to do with the lottery aspect of it. Darn...maybe somebody in Canada could host it, or in some place where you don't need a license, and where it's easy to get stuff here...

We have the same problem up here... The Canadian government sells
Lotto tickets left and right and opens Casinos all over the place...
but for the average Canadian citizen it is illegal to do so...
Do I smell a conspiracy or just something completely F#%king wrong...

Freakin' hypocrites............

Jerry

 

[charliebruce]

There is (over here) a distinction between a game of chance, and a game of skill/competition. I'm not sure what it's like over there, but here, to enter what is essentially random TV draws, you have to answer a "question" (What colour is the sky? Blue, Red or Purple?) which hence adds an element of skill, and removes the legal title of "gambling".

If anyone is interested, this thread has *some* information, though there is probably more relevant stuff for US people elsewhere: Online Raffle - Legal Issues - UK Business Forums