“How did we have sweepstakes before Facebook?” That question, which I heard during a call last week, summarizes the tremendous impact that social media has had on the use of sweepstakes and contests. READ MORE
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General Mills dips a toe in forced arbitration for sweepstakes, contests
April 23, 2014
Last week, The New York Times reported that General Mills added language to its website notifying its customers that if they downloaded a coupon, joined the company’s online community on places like Facebook, or entered a sweepstakes or contest sponsored by General Mills, they would give up their right to sue the company. READ MORE
Now on deck: The law behind sports trading cards promotions
February 25, 2014
Because sweepstakes and contests are such a popular marketing strategy, many industries develop promotions specifically tied to their products. For the world of sports trading cards, one popular promotion is the “box break.” READ MORE
Can a grab bag be a sweepstakes?
February 4, 2014
When I hear the words “grab bag,” I think about stores that used to stock plain wrapped packages labeled as either for “boys” or “girls." For a dollar, you could choose one of these packages without knowing what it contained. READ MORE
What you need to know about Australian sweepstakes and contest regulations
August 26, 2013
One of my favorite aspects of my practice is how it has connected me to fantastic attorneys and businesses around the globe. More and more, sweepstakes and contests are global in nature. READ MORE
Boot Camp #5: Customer-only sweepstakes
Justin Mulligan
July 3, 2013
If sweepstakes law had Ten Commandments, the first would be “thou shall not require anyone to make a purchase in order to enter a sweepstakes.” Doing so could violate the gambling laws in virtually every state in the country. READ MORE
What you need to know about Canadian sweepstakes and contest regulations
June 26, 2013
Clients occasionally ask me to create official rules for a sweepstakes or contest that will be conducted in the U.S. and Canada, or in Canada alone. That’s when I contact counsel in Canada who I know have up-to-date experience with Canadian sweepstakes and contest laws. READ MORE
Supermarket chain gets freezer burn from $100K sweepstakes fine
June 13, 2013
Once again, a large retailer has been charged with violating New York state law by failing to properly inform customers that they could enter a sweepstakes without having to make a purchase. This time it was The Great Atlantic and Pacific Teas Company. READ MORE
Shield your sweepstakes from gambling laws
December 21, 2011
Virtually all state laws define illegal gambling as having three basic elements – prize, chance and consideration. The job of sweepstakes creators is to eliminate one or more of these elements from every sweepstakes they prepare. READ MORE