A very strange "contest" my company's running

[jmowreader]

On Wednesday we got the signage for this new NFL-themed contest we're running. They're actually giving away some cool stuff--grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to the Super Bowl, first prize an all-expenses-paid trip to the Pro Bowl and second is an all-expenses-paid trip to the NFL Draft.

The signage all says "Spend $100 Or More For Your Chance To Win" in big letters.

In small letters, off to the side, it also says "No purchase necessary. Making a purchase will not help you win." So everyone go to http://www.homedepot.com/nfl and sign up. Just don't enroll for our spam because the messages are huge.

Hmmm...:shrug:

[Little Wing]

1. I think there's some law against forcing people to buy things to enter

contests. I'm vague on it, but 99% of all competitions will say "No Purchase Necessary" and then in even finer print tell you the long and purposely convoluted steps you have to take to get a free entry card.

But thanks for the linkage

[Little Wing]

3. Here's how you do it without spending $100

To enter the Sweepstakes without making a purchase, hand-print your full name, address, daytime and evening telephone numbers and age on a 3” x 5” plain piece of paper, and mail it in a sealed envelope to The Home Depot Shop and Win Super Bowl Sweepstakes, c/o Octagon, Inc., 5909 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA, 30328. All entries must be received by 5:00 PM ET on 1/22/07.

[jmowreader]

4. Well...effectively true but not quite the whole story

It is legal in many states to hold contests in which you are required to pay money to enter. These are called "games of chance" or "gambling."

However, in no state are you allowed to do it unless you're licensed as a gaming establishment, and there are rules as to how you advertise.

[pacalo]

2. It says "Spend $100 *and* Enter..."

indicating two different actions, but combining them to infer that spending $100 is required.

On second look, it does state "No Purchase Necessary" below the title of the contest.