Friday, July 23, 2010

NWH scooter give-away - an illegal raffle?


Just what I need; right? A Flat Squirrel scooter. Yippee. And I could win one! All I need to do is fill out the entry blank in this morning's Northwest Herald and mail it in. That's worth a $0.44 stamp.

Perhaps I shouldn't mention it here, because readers might enter and drive down my chance of winning... But I shall, and I wish you good luck.

You know what I'll do, if I win it (and if I get elected on November 2)? Guess ... Put a seven-pointed star on it and put it in the vehicle line-up at the Sheriff's Department! Well, I won't commit to that - at least, not right now.

Now, where might the Northwest Herald be crossing the line from a free drawing (not a raffle) and a legal raffle in Crystal Lake that would require a permit (that they won't be able to get)?

Alongside the entry blank were these words: "Fill out and mail in the form at right for a chance to win! GET 10 ENTRIES when you sign up to receive the Northwest Herald!"

Bingo! To get the 10 entries, you must sign up for a new subscription to the Northwest Herald. For which you have to pay. How much? $13.39/month. To me, that looks like "consideration". You can't get 10 entries (chances) without buying a new subscription. Current subscribers are not eligible for the 10 entries.

The Contest Rules printed on the entry blank do not contain any restriction on the number of entries by one individual. Neither is there a requirement to mail entries separately. So I'll save up my entry blanks and submit them all at once in one envelope.

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