Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Commons^™

Economic Value, Equal Dignity And The Future Of Sweepstakes, Anthony N. Cabot, Glenn J. Light, Karl F. Rutledge

UNLV Gaming Law Journal

The three basic forms of prize gaming are gambling, sweepstakes, and contests. Most states have a common approach to determining the legality of prize gaming. In general, states analyze if an activity includes three factors associated with gambling: (1) opportunity to win a prize, (2) winning based on chance, and (3) consideration paid to take that chance. If you take away any one of the three elements of gambling—consideration, prize, or chance—you have an activity that is lawful in most states. A contest, for example, differs from gambling because the winner is determined by skill. Determination of whether a (pay-for-play) …