Comments on: BYU Caught Red Handed Promoting a Lottery

By: Sarebear

Sarebear — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:35:51 +0000

I’ve seen news reports about a woman who enters every one she runs across, whether it be a form to mail on the side of a package, or a tear off sheet on a product display, or what-have-you. She spends about $2500/year on postage. She does get alot of junk mail, though, and I’d assume some telemarketing calls (as companies you are doing “business” with can still call you even if you are on Do Not Call list).

She apparently wins a variety of trips every year, as well as other things.

But GEEZ the effort it’d take to do all these things. She does come out rather ahead, but it’d take alot of work. Lol.

By: Tim J.

Tim J. — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:59:18 +0000

“It’s ok to enter a lottery if it’s free?”

I have no problem with that. You’ve never entered a drawing at the mall for a free car or vaction, etc.? I don’t see how this is gambling–How do you lose?

Your BOM example is intersting-try it and see. I know I’ve had scouts run a drawing /raffle before and it raised a lot of money.

By: FaithHopeLove

FaithHopeLove — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:53:28 +0000

I don’t have a firm opinion on this, but I have a thought, so let’s see where it goes. =)

If I buy a Coke and it has potential prizes under the cap, am I participating in a “lottery”? Possibly (I looked it up.) Am I gambling? Not really, unless I purchased the product specifically with the hopes of winning, not intending to drink it. Since you get something when you make your purchase (the Coke), then the lottery aspect isn’t really gambling. When you buy a lottery ticket, you don’t really have anything, except a worthless piece of paper. (Unless it wins, in which case you _get_ calls by everyone you’ve ever met and a few you haven’t.)

If you can enter a lottery for free, then it’s a sweepstakes. Is that prohibited by the church? (Is something for nothing gambling? Merriam-Webster says betting on an uncertain outcome is.)

Don, I think if you renamed your BoM lottery to “raffle”, you wouldn’t have any problems. =)

Now, what I’d like to hear a debate on is Bingo/Bunko playing in church…

By: don

don — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:13:28 +0000

Tim, if I take your point then it’s ok to enter a lottery if it’s free? Just fill out a postcard for every lottery and play the lottery that way.

“It’s all just about another way of marketing their product”. So my Book of Mormon sale/lottery example is perfectly ok?

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:45:58 +0000

“They refuse to run any ad for any rated “R” movie.”

I think this makes your frustration in the original post much more understandable. I don’t blame you for being picky… They sure seem to be!

By: Tim J.

Tim J. — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 06:35:41 +0000

Don,

I understand your point, but does this mean we should avoid buying products that enter you into a drawing, thus making it a lottery? Should I go to BK instead of McD’s when they’re running the Monopoly game? Their are hundreds of other examples and it’s all just about another way of marketing their product.

BTW, just in case you didn’t, you may need to read the disclaimer. It is almost illegal in all states to require you to purchase something in order to be entered into a drawing. Thus with most promotions you can send a postcard to an address for free and enter the drawing that way.

By: don

don — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 04:07:54 +0000

Ned, so if you purchase something that then enters you in a lottery then it’s ok to play that lottery? How much value does the item have to have to make it ok?

Here’s my new lottery: buy a Book of Mormon (very valuable) for $5 (good price for a book) and I’ll enter you in a lottery for $100.

Maybe our Ward should sponsor this as a Scout Fund raiser.

By: don

don — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 04:01:08 +0000

Tim, I send ads to the Daily Universe every week for my theater. They refuse to run any ad for any rate “R” movie. Why support a coke lottery and not allow me to advertise all my movies. (I’ve only had about 3 rated “R” movies in the 2 years we’ve been open)

By: NFlanders

NFlanders — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:06:23 +0000

I think I’ll have to go with Tim on this one. It’s not really a lottery because you are buying a product, not a chance to win. The chance to win is just a bonus.

By: Bret

Bret — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 08:22:28 +0000

If you really want to get nit picky here, get on those that grow and sell hops to Budwieser or work in the casinos here in Vegas. Or just don’t worry about it>:)