PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Sweepstakes and Contests
The internet is now the primary medium for operators to disseminate online gaming, sweepstakes, and contests to participants worldwide. Opposing moral viewpoints, conflicting statutory interpretations and legal challenges...more
“It’s just a giveaway. What could go wrong?” You’d be surprised. A fun marketing initiative can quickly become a legal headache. Behind every good sweepstakes is a legal minefield—one that many brands don’t recognize...more
Here are curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US: • Connecticut Law Aims to Weed Out Illegal Sales of...more
New York AG Letitia James sent cease-and-desist letters to 26 online sweepstakes casino platforms alleging that they engage in prohibited gambling activity. In the letters, the AG demands that the virtual “sweepstakes...more
Maine’s Gambling Control Unit (GCU) has issued a formal warning regarding the proliferation of illegal interactive gaming (“iGaming”) platforms operating within the state. The warning emphasized that while certain forms of...more
We have previously posted on some of the recent legal issues with social casino sweepstakes. See Social Casino Sweepstakes Model is Under Fire – What Game Companies, Payment Processors and App Stores Need to Know. Various...more
Recent events around the country indicate that online sweepstakes are facing increasing scrutiny and concerns from legislatures, regulators and others. “Montana just criminalized everyday digital promotions with a law so...more
Earlier this week, Coinbase and its sweepstakes administrator agreed to the terms of a class action settlement in the matter of Suski v. Coinbase, Inc. After nearly four years of litigation, including a trip to the United...more
Legal sweepstakes are an effective means for brands to attract consumer attention and interaction through the allure of possible prize winnings. Some sweepstakes operators, however, have attempted to create business models...more
Sweepstakes casinos have become a force in online gaming, offering casino-style games without navigating the complex regulatory scrutiny of gaming regulators or legislators. Sweepstakes casinos use creative business models,...more
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission sent more than $18 million in refunds to U.S. consumers who entered a Publishers Clearing House (PCH) sweepstakes in recent years. The refund represents a significant remedy to...more
Earlier this month, members of the New York State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee unanimously voted to advance bill S5935, which, if signed into law, would (a) forbid the operation and promotion of certain online...more
Social casino games remain incredibly popular and profitable. This success has drawn attacks from plaintiffs’ class action lawyers in the form of gambling loss recovery lawsuits and other consumer-based actions. Some have...more
The culmination of every successful sweepstakes promotion involves the picking of a winner, or multiple winners, as applicable. Winner selection also provides the sweepstakes operator with the opportunity to generate positive...more
Energizer False Advertising Suit Runs Out of Juice at 9th Circuit - The 9th Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a class action lawsuit alleging that Energizer falsely advertised its AA MAX batteries as "up to 50% longer...more
Alcohol beverage companies must contend with an ever-evolving regulatory landscape, including unpacking the new environment under US President Joe Biden’s executive order on competition. How do you differentiate as a brand...more
As alcohol products compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace, how do you differentiate as a brand while being mindful of regulatory landmines? Join us for the second webinar in our Alcohol Quarterly Update Series on...more