Adobe makes Canadians answer math problems to win prizes

April 13, 2008 · 6 Comment s

I can't quite remember why I ended up reading the official rules to the "Suite Life Sweepstake" competition on Adobe.com, but I'm still trying to make sense of something.

You can find a link to the sweepstake on the Adobe.com homepage (bottom left box on right hand side).

In typical Adobe fashion, the sweepstake is open only to the US and Canada - we don't get competitions or offers in the UK, because the UK office can't be bothered.

Anyway, for some reason I decided to read all the rules of the sweepstake... I really must have been bored, but when I arrived at the end of point (4)... well. I'm amused, confused, bewildered and totally dumbfounded.

I would like to quote the part of rule (4) that ... well, read the full thing yourself at http://www.adobe.com/special/sweepstakes/terms/

If the selected winner is from Canada, the winner will be required to correctly answer a math problem prior to receiving the prize.

Why????

Seriously, why? Is there a reason that a winner from the US is simply given a prize, but one from Canada has to answer a maths problem?

Tags: What the F%*k? · adobe

6 response s so far ↓

1 Jason Dean // Apr 13, 2008 at 3:21 PM

My understanding is that this is because contents like sweepstakes are not completely legal in Canada. Therefore, the contest must be made into a "game of skill" in order for them to win the prize. The sweepstakes is not to win the prize, it is for a chance to earn the prize. No doubt, the math question they have to answer is what is 1+1.
2 todd sharp // Apr 13, 2008 at 4:42 PM

I could be wrong, but I believe the state of Wisconsin has wacky laws for contests too.
3 John Dowdell // Apr 13, 2008 at 11:48 PM

Yup, regional moral and tax laws cause restrictions like this... "lotteries" vs "games of skill" has been an issue for Canada for awhile.

I think it'd be great if every such geo-restricted offer said *why* it was so restricted... why make anyone wonder?

jd/adobe
4 Doug Schmidt // Apr 14, 2008 at 1:01 AM

@Andy, this is just one of the many ways that we Canucks use to reinforce our math skills (whoops, sorry, that should read mathS skills for UK readers).

The Book of Wiki says this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill_testing_question

@JD, contests are even crazier in Quebec. Adobe will need to have registered this contest with the Quebec lottery board in order for a Quebec resident to be eligible. Hopefully they have (even though it will increase my odds Quebec is excluded)
5 Gary Gilbert // Apr 14, 2008 at 10:38 AM

Like John said it's taking advantage of a "loop hole" in a very broadly worded Canadian anti-gambling law that basically lumps anything to do with a "game of chance" into the gambling pile, where as a game of skill and chance (one that requires a math problem to be solved as well as pure chance, a drawing for example ) is not considered gambling and therefore not illegal.

Yes this particular Canadian law is a bit wacky but I don't think there is a Country on the planet that doesn't have wacky laws...
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