"Can Internet Sweepstakes be Considered as a Harmless Promotion?"

It is no surprise that since online gambling has become so popular, that sweepstakes games have reached the Internet too. While Internet gambling is still illegal in the U.S., there are those that might argue that online sweepstakes is yet another form of online gambling. One case in point is the state of Wyoming, which is split over whether or not sweepstakes should be made legal. At this time, Wyoming is one of only eight states that offer online sweepstakes games. But Wyoming’s Attorney General sees it as just another form of gambling. Therefore he believes that it should be illegal and not permitted.

Phone card companies are offering sweepstakes games as a promotional gimmick to augment sales. Such companies are offering their customers a chance to play sweepstakes games at any time that they acquire an Internet combo package at an Internet café. The package includes a phone card, and Internet time, in addition to sweepstakes points. These points that are proffered by the phone card company can only be used to play sweepstakes games at the cafe in which they were purchased. They are not redeemable for cash. Any supplementary sweepstakes points earned, however, may be redeemed cash or prizes. That is why Wyoming’s Attorney General sees playing sweepstakes is being basically a gambling activity. In fact the sweepstakes games themselves appear to be very similar to games offered at online gambling sites. Sweepstakes operators, however, will always try to differentiate their games from standard gambling activities.