Raffle Guidelines

I've never looked into this before, so I never knew there was any kind of issue with it at all, but I would appreciate some clarification on something. I understand that there are SL TOS issues with certain types of raffles. What I was wondering is if it would "legal" to have those interested in winning a new car, boat, house, etc... pay a raffle ball x-number of lindens for a chance to do so?

Sincerely,
Rutherford

The Knowledge Base article is here.

https://support.secondlife.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=4417

Short version is that it seems to be that your raffle falls into the broad category of prohibited wagering. (People risk Linden dollars on a random chance that something will occur.)

However, Linden Lab may permit as an exception certain activities. One possible exception is, "If the "payout" involves objects that are more akin to novelty objects that cannot readily be converted into Linden dollars, real-world currency or value, then that activity will likely be permitted."

Now, the question that the FAQ doesn't answer is the method by which you secure permission from Linden Lab.

In practice, from what I have read, Linden Lab is very liberal about allowing activities clearly fall into the broad definition of wagering, as long as it doesn't look like a casino game. So if you could contact a Linden, my guess is you have a good shot of getting the game cleared. Again, the question is, how do you seek that permission? Maybe someone else has that answer for you.

They say they don't "clear" games, at least not officially.

You can get a Linden to come look at your game and give you an opinion. However, it is no guarantee against another Linden coming around some time later whilst the game is in operation and returning it, citing the owner over "illegal gambling operation" or somesuch.

It has happened enough times since the gambling ban that it's pretty much a de facto rule.

Pay in, random chance of winning, prize of value, that's a no no.

However it is still not clear whether a no transfer item is deemed a prize of value. As Talarus points out, different day, different definition from someone responding to the abuse report.

Well, there are a lot of people on XStreetSL (now owned by Linden Lab) who sell gambling-type games that are "Linden Approved." Maybe those merchants are good people to ask about how to get the game "Linden Approved."

It is a claim not supported by the Lindens themselves. The "official" stance, espoused regularly in office hours and blog posts is that they do not give "official" approvals or certifications for any particular game or category of games.

So, what it amounts to is pretty much what I said. The creators had a Linden look at their game and tell them, verbally, "looks OK to me". It is not a legal statement, nor is it a guarantee that it won't be acted on in the future.

There are plenty of those "Linden Approved" games which have been returned and/or the owners warned over them.

When Linden Lab has products on its web site that it allows to be advertised as "Linden Approved," then that's saying it's Linden Approved. It might not be reasonable to expect Linden Lab to track down claims of "Disney Approved" or "FDA Approved." Linden Lab is responsible for knowing whether claims of Linden Approved on its website are true claims.

It's not like it's secret or hidden. I have noticed quite a few "Linden Approved" items on XStreetSL that caught my eye because, hey, Linden Lab just bought XStreetSL, they are protecting their name there, right? It's not like they are hard to find. Just to confirm that I wasn't mis-remembering, I went back to XStreetSL and timed myself at two minutes to find a list of "Linden Approved" items.

How does the buyer know whether a claim of "Linden Approved" is valid? Seeing it on Linden Lab's own web site is about as safe as it gets.

And Linden Lab does take a piece of every sale. So that "Linden Approved" thing sells a product that directly profits Linden Lab.

This is of course completely off-topic. But no, the scenario of buying a "Linden Approved" item from Linden Lab's own website, then Linden Lab destroying the item because they didn't approve it- well, they'd get away with it because it's never enough money to be worth suing. But it would not fly in any court anywhere.

In the states, raffles are highly regulated and it does not matter if it is for a for-profit or non-profit corporation.

Example of one state: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/bingo_raffles/bingo.htm

One story stands out in my mind of the high school that raffled off a new car. Unfortunately for them, once you start the process you can't stop it. In other words, they did not sell enough tickets to cover the cost of the car and still had to give the car to the raffle winner.

What does this have to do with SL? I bet that LL does not want to have to mess with the legal ramifications of raffles to stave off the inquiries of a regulatory agency.

You forget whom we are talking about here.

I know what it seems like, but what I am telling you is the reality. It HAS happened numerous times already. It WILL continue to happen.

LL isn't responsible for other people's misuse of their name. They can stop it, but there is no legal requirement that they do. It's that fun little part of the EULA that everyone agrees to which absolves them of all apparent responsibility for such things.

The ultimate problem is the same for many things about SL; the rules are ambiguous at best, and are subject to individual interpretation by the Lindens.



Tell that to the buyers who have had their "Linden Approved" gambling devices returned with/without warning, and the Lindens, who keep harping on the mantra "we don't give approvals".



As long as the EULA stands, there's nothing a resident can sue over.