Illegal Lottery?

[Praxis1452]

Anyway if any of you guys have noticed the SLI-Zone promo beginning this year and read and looked at the rules it IS and illegal lottery right? They ask you to have a SLi ready motherboard and an SLi ready card. They even ask you too purchase them if you want to get into the competition.

quoted from FCG on XS

"First Name: Kristopher
Middle Initial: J
Last Name: *** REMOVED ***
Address Line: *** REMOVED ***
Address Line 2:
City: *** REMOVED ***
State: *** REMOVED ***
Zip: *** REMOVED ***
Zip4:
Area Code: *** REMOVED ***
Phone Number: *** REMOVED ***
Company Name: NVIDIA CORPORATION
Company Address Line: 2701 San Tomas Expressway
Company Address Line 2:
Company City: Santa Clara
Company State: CA
Company Zip: 95050
Company Zip4:
Company Area Code: 408
Company Phone Number: 486-2000

Comment Or Question Message:
The following pictures / online links show the principle reason for my complaint - that the NVIDIA CORPORATION is running an illegal LOTTERY in the State of California under the guise of a year-long contest.

Picture of online rules with relavent portion highlighted:
http://www.thetechrepository.com/bad_nvidia/365_Days_of_Winning_Rules.png

Live URL for official "contest" rules:
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_giveaway_rules_us.html

Advice given when you are having "trouble" registering for the contest (portions highlighted)
http://www.thetechrepository.com/bad_nv...or_the_Component-A-Day_Contest.pngted):

Live URL of the same information:
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_giveaway_help.html

If the webpages presented above have in any way changed since I have contacted you then you may certainly contact me for more information regarding the initial postings. Please, feel free to download and save my hosted pictures for reference.

Again, my complaint is that the NVIDIA CORPORATION, although stated otherwise in their official rules, IS IN FACT REQUIRING A PURCHASE to enter their "contest". They provide no instruction regarding an alternate means of registration. In fact, they go so far as to recommend a purchase in order to become eligible for winnings - the definition of a lottery.

My request is simple - NVIDIA CORPORATION should be obligated to open the "contest" to all and, I believe, pay the maximum fine allowable to the State of California for their illegal actions. I also request that this matter be forwarded to any and all other states, agencies, countries, providences, etc. of jurisdiction for further investigation.

Sincerely,
Kristopher *** REMOVED ***

Affirm Information Accurate: Yes
Send This Complaint: Yes
Request Copy: Yes
Email: *** REMOVED ***
Confirm Email: *** REMOVED *** "

I c/p since he had proof.

If it is illegal I'd suggest you'd contact your AG.

 

[Paratus]

Why is it illegal to ask that you have an SLI mobo?

 

[josh6079]

One question: If I buy a lottery "ticket", wouldn't that be "requiring a purchase to enter their 'contest'?" Are you sure that an Nvidia GPU / motherboard isn't like a lottery ticket?

I love "open" lotteries but as far as I know there is always is a cost for participating in a lottery.

 

[flexy]

links dont work.

Dont know whether illegal or not, RETARDED for sure..... what can you even "win" in that "lottery" ?

 

[Praxis1452]

Originally posted by: josh6079
One question: If I buy a lottery "ticket", wouldn't that be "requiring a purchase to enter their 'contest'?" Are you sure that an Nvidia GPU / motherboard isn't like a lottery ticket?

I love "open" lotteries but as far as I know there is always is a cost for participating in a lottery.

Lotteries are illegal in most states unless being run by the state itselfl. Atleast that's what it is for NJ. I've looked it up. A lottery is defined as a contest usually by chance where you buy to get a chance. eh there IS a legal definition but I'm not looking it up.

Open lotteries are sweepstakes and are subjected by different laws I believe as it requires no purchase.

See the thing is Nvidia could have limited it only to people who previously had SLi mobo's and cards before the contest started but after it having started encouraging people to buy SLI compatible stuff to enter in is pretty much a lottery.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

hmm the links have been removed =\

 

[Nelsieus]

lol, this actually amuses me.

I guess the green haters are really getting desperate here.

Nelsieus

 

[flexy]

great contest...so i need to buy a SLI mobo and (preferrably) a SLI gfxcard setup....so i am able to win prizes (and now i cite)
"worth between $50 and $599" <-----

very, very, dumb

 

[Wreckage]

From the official rules.... (from the second link that the OP listed...).

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

This thread is bullshit at best and viral marketing at worst. :thumbsdown:

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
From the official rules.... (from the second link that the OP listed...idiot).

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

This thread is bullshit at best and viral marketing at worst. :thumbsdown:

Agreed 100%!

 

[josh6079]

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_giveaway_rules_us.html

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

THIS PROMOTION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW . OPEN ONLY TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EXCLUDING NEW YORK, FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO AND ITS OTHER TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), CANADA (EXCLUDING THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC), GERMANY, THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND SWEDEN, WHO (A) HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES OF RESIDENCE AS OF THE START OF THIS PROMOTION AND (B) WHO ALREADY OWNED AT LEAST ONE SLI READY MOTHERBOARD AND ONE SLI READY GRAPHICS CARD BEFORE THE START OF THIS PROMOTION.

As Wreckage said, seems like a far stretch. Especially when the disclaimer is in bolded caps at the top of the page.

 

[Gstanfor]

I see the good old ATi sewer pit is in overdrive for the new year.... Perhaps they should put their R600 lauching resources into overdrive instead...

 

[Yreka]

If I win, ill be ok with it.

If I don't, then FVCK THEM !!

I registered just before I returned my 680i board. I guess I still qualify though eh, I have my old A8N32 kicking around in the wifes computer.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: josh6079
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_giveaway_rules_us.html

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

THIS PROMOTION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW . OPEN ONLY TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EXCLUDING NEW YORK, FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO AND ITS OTHER TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), CANADA (EXCLUDING THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC), GERMANY, THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND SWEDEN, WHO (A) HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES OF RESIDENCE AS OF THE START OF THIS PROMOTION AND (B) WHO ALREADY OWNED AT LEAST ONE SLI READY MOTHERBOARD AND ONE SLI READY GRAPHICS CARD BEFORE THE START OF THIS PROMOTION.

If you are having trouble signing up for this contest, please read below for some possible reasons and solutions.

Reason 1:
Your PC does not meet the requirement of at least one SLI-Ready motherboard and at least one SLI-Ready graphics card.

Solution:
Purchase an SLI-Ready motherboard and SLI-Ready graphics card (or two!) and build a new PC ? then visit back to the contest page after you've loaded the most recent drivers.


As Wreckage said, seems like a far stretch. Especially when the disclaimer is in bolded caps at the top of the page.

No, there's no stretching necessary to see it is most likely illegal to not have a way for non-SLI owners to enter the contest. Yes, they stated it's open to those people:

WHO ALREADY OWNED AT LEAST ONE SLI READY MOTHERBOARD AND ONE SLI READY GRAPHICS CARD BEFORE THE START OF THIS PROMOTION.

But they also go on to say:

If you are having trouble signing up for this contest, please read below for some possible reasons and solutions.

Reason 1:
Your PC does not meet the requirement of at least one SLI-Ready motherboard and at least one SLI-Ready graphics card.

Solution:
Purchase an SLI-Ready motherboard and SLI-Ready graphics card (or two!) and build a new PC ? then visit back to the contest page after you've loaded the most recent drivers.

So on the one page they're saying you must have already owned an SLI mobo/card combo BEFORE the start of the contest in order to enter, and in the next page they're saying that if you go out and purchase these components NOW, you will be allowed to enter.

So a purchase IS required for those who didn't own an SLI combo before the start of the contest which is in direct contradiction to:

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Which, AFAIK, is illegal without having an alternate method of entry for those who don't purchase an SLI motherboard & SLI capable video card.

 

[CKXP]

Seems like a "catch 22" to me...

 

[Aikouka]

I think the problem that you're having is you're forgetting the point of this. nVidia only has to state that they're giving these products out to people with compatible hardware only. Their idea of purchasing hardware is only to meet the minimum requirements of compatible hardware. I mean, why give someone a video card, when the point of going SLi cannot be met?

It's like Dodge running a competition to win a body kit for a Cobalt and allowing anyone to enter, even those who cannot use the prize.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
I think the problem that you're having is you're forgetting the point of this. nVidia only has to state that they're giving these products out to people with compatible hardware only. Their idea of purchasing hardware is only to meet the minimum requirements of compatible hardware. I mean, why give someone a video card, when the point of going SLi cannot be met?

It's like Dodge running a competition to win a body kit for a Cobalt and allowing anyone to enter, even those who cannot use the prize.

I'm pretty sure my non-Nvidia motherboard is compatible with any Nvidia video card currently available. They're giving away motherboards and single video cards, not complete SLI setups.

And even if they were only giving out pairs of SLI capable video cards, everybody should still have a chance to win without making an Nvidia purchase first.

 

[spittledip]

OP is right. To enter the contest you have to have recent forceware drivers installed to enter the contest:

Here's how to enter:

1. IMPORTANT: Before attempting to enter the contest, you must ensure that you have one of these 2 drivers installed (and your system has been restarted after installing): ForceWare 93.81 for GeForce 6 Series and GeForce 7 Series graphics cards, or ForceWare 97.44 for all GeForce 8 Series graphics cards. The system scan will not let you enter into the contest unless you are using one of these drivers in your PC.

I like Nvidia and ATI the same- I would like to win something, but can't as I have an ATI card... of course I do have an old pc in which I could stick an old TNT...

edit: oh damn, I think it checks if you actually have an sli ready pc.. nm then

 

[spittledip]

Out of curiiosity I installed th java component they require you to install (I guess it checks to see if you have sli-ready mobo and forceware drivers)- here is the message I got from the website:

We have detected that you do not have an SLI-enabled desktop PC. If you have an SLI-Ready desktop PC (a desktop PC containing an SLI-Ready motherboard and one SLI-Ready graphics card) please download and install the following new GeForce graphics driver and re-run this system analyzer (by revisiting this web page after the driver is installed and your PC has restarted) so that we can verify your hardware and enter you in the promotion: ForceWare Version 97.44 (if you have a GeForce 8800 Series graphics card) or ForceWare Version 93.81 (for all other SLI-Ready graphics cards).

If you do not have an SLI-Ready desktop PC, simply visit the NVIDIA SLI Marketplace and we will help equip you with the hottest SLI-Ready gaming hardware so that you can enter this promotion.

This is like giving welfare to the rich!! Oh well..

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Creig
I'm pretty sure my non-Nvidia motherboard is compatible with any Nvidia video card currently available. They're giving away motherboards and single video cards, not complete SLI setups.

And even if they were only giving out pairs of SLI capable video cards, everybody should still have a chance to win without making an Nvidia purchase first.

Umm I think you missed where this competition is being held... nVidia's SLI Zone.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Creig
I'm pretty sure my non-Nvidia motherboard is compatible with any Nvidia video card currently available. They're giving away motherboards and single video cards, not complete SLI setups.

And even if they were only giving out pairs of SLI capable video cards, everybody should still have a chance to win without making an Nvidia purchase first.

Umm I think you missed where this competition is being held... nVidia's SLI Zone.

That has no bearing on the matter.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Creig
That has no bearing on the matter.

I won't even argue with you anymore on the matter, you're stuck in your ways of not believing the fact that it's a contest designed to "upgrade" users to SLi systems or upgrade SLi users to newer SLi technology or both. It's not like this is hard to comprehend, folks. I mean, why would the SLI-Zone have a contest and require users to have an SLi-Ready system with a video card that supports SLi... oh so they can win another card and have an SLi system... so they can get "SLi ready memory"... so they can get a new-age SLi motherboard to replace their older one? Mah gosh, it's so logical it's illogical.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Creig
That has no bearing on the matter.

I won't even argue with you anymore on the matter, you're stuck in your ways of not believing the fact that it's a contest designed to "upgrade" users to SLi systems or upgrade SLi users to newer SLi technology or both. It's not like this is hard to comprehend, folks. I mean, why would the SLI-Zone have a contest and require users to have an SLi-Ready system with a video card that supports SLi... oh so they can win another card and have an SLi system... so they can get "SLi ready memory"... so they can get a new-age SLi motherboard to replace their older one? Mah gosh, it's so logical it's illogical.

Their contest clearly states "NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION". This means I shouldn't have to purchase something in order to enter, yet they say that in order to enter the contest, I must "Purchase an SLI-Ready motherboard and SLI-Ready graphics card (or two!) and build a new PC ? then visit back to the contest page after you've loaded the most recent drivers."

So please point out how I'm supposed to enter WITHOUT purchasing an SLI motherboard and SLI video card.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Creig
That has no bearing on the matter.

I won't even argue with you anymore on the matter, you're stuck in your ways of not believing the fact that it's a contest designed to "upgrade" users to SLi systems or upgrade SLi users to newer SLi technology or both. It's not like this is hard to comprehend, folks. I mean, why would the SLI-Zone have a contest and require users to have an SLi-Ready system with a video card that supports SLi... oh so they can win another card and have an SLi system... so they can get "SLi ready memory"... so they can get a new-age SLi motherboard to replace their older one? Mah gosh, it's so logical it's illogical.

Their contest clearly states "NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION". This means I shouldn't have to purchase something in order to enter, yet they say that in order to enter the contest, I must "Purchase an SLI-Ready motherboard and SLI-Ready graphics card (or two!) and build a new PC ? then visit back to the contest page after you've loaded the most recent drivers."

So please point out how I'm supposed to enter WITHOUT purchasing an SLI motherboard and SLI video card.

Uhh I can enter the contest on my computer and I did not purchase my components for the strict purpose of entering a contest. Therefore it does not require the purchase of components, it requires the components.

If you don't have it, you're simply not eligible. Plain and simple. If you want to be eligible, you must meet the hardware requirements somehow and the easiest way... buy the hardware.

I would presume that nVidia is trying to push SLi onto people and this contest is one of their ways of making it more mainstream. Why would they let people who can't even use a single aspect of SLi (be it video card or memory) win a product if they cannot use it in the method desired? That'd just be contra to the whole point. They aren't giving these for "free", they're hoping to get people hooked on the SLi concept so they'll buy more in the future and essentially spend more money. A return investment, you could say.

 

[Genx87]

Is this really a thread? The hacks who really believe this is illegal a big lol at you.